By Police operatives in Akwa Ibom have dismantled a baby trafficking syndicate that had been operating under the guise of rescuing children from desperate young mothers. The gang, which sources babies from so-called “baby factories,” was intercepted during a routine Easter patrol.
State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said officers stopped a Mazda vehicle along Nsit Atai/Oron Road. The vehicle, driven by one Bethel Anyanwu and carrying two female passengers with a two-day-old baby, raised suspicions during questioning.
Unable to provide a convincing explanation for the baby, the women—Nasikpo Sonia Labere and Inemesit Okin Akpan—confessed they had been sent from Port Harcourt to pick up the infant from Miss Grace Inyang in Oron.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Alison Eduno, who allegedly coordinated the handover. Police also arrested the baby’s 20-year-old mother, Blessing Walter, and her 55-year-old grandmother, Grace Walter, who admitted to selling the child for N800,000.
All suspects are now in custody as authorities continue their probe into the wider trafficking network. The child has since been transferred to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare in Uyo for proper care.
DSP John reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to cracking down on human trafficking and protecting vulnerable members of society, especially children.
