Police Nabs Nursing Mother, Four Others Over Sale Of Three-Day Old Baby

PHOTO CREDIT: PUNCH

A nursing mother, Imaobong Udoh, has
been arrested by the Akwa Ibom State
Police Command for allegedly selling her
three-day old baby girl.
She was arrested alongside four others,
who were said to have allegedly
participated in the theft of the baby.
The accomplices are the buyer, Mrs.
Regina James; her husband, Mfon James;
the traditional birth attendant who
delivered the baby, Mrs. Comfort Henry;
and Mr Emmanuel Okon, a homeopathic
doctor, who facilitated the trade.
Speaking on the incident in Uyo, the
state capital on Monday, the Police
Commissioner, Mr. Umar Gwadabe, said
that the father of the baby had reported
the theft to the police, leading to the
arrest of the suspects.
Gwadabe said, "On March 3, 2014, a
case of child stealing was reported by
Mr. Eteobong James, of No. 33 Urua Ekpa
Road, Itu Local Governmnet Area, to the
police, where a three-day-old baby girl
was sold for N260, 000.
"Based on the report, the suspects were
arrested.
"Mr Emmanuel Etim Okon, was the one
that arranged the infamous deal and
personally conveyed the baby from the
point of delivery at Nna-Enin in Uruan
Local Government Area to the buyers at
No. 37 Church Road, Uyo".
Gwadabe stated that Regina allegedly
paid the sum of N150, 000 to the mother
of the baby and another N110, 000 to
Okon, the homeopathic doctor, for his
services.
The police boss explained that the
accused would soon be charged to court
even as he warned child thieves to
desist or relocate as the police under his
leadership will not hesitate to arrest and
prosecute anyone caught in the illicit
trade.
According to PUNCH METRO, the
husband of the buyer exonerated
himself of complicity in the crime as he
claimed that his wife informed him that
she was pregnant and he gave her
money for ante-natal care but was
surprised to hear that she instead paid
to get the baby.
He said, "I am a trader. My wife, Regina,
told me she was pregnant and I gave her
money for ante-natal. One day, she told
me she was in labour and later informed
me that she had been delivered of a
baby girl.
"I did not know she bought the baby
since she has given birth to four
children, though three died".
Absolving himself of any blame, the
homeopathic doctor said Regina brought
the mother of the baby, Imaobong, to
him so that he could take care of her
during ante-natal.
He said Regina had explained to him
that the father of the baby was not
financially buoyant to take care of her.
He also denied collecting N110, 000 from
Regina, stating that he only collected
N30, 000, which was the cost of services
he rendered towards the delivery of
Imaobong's baby.
"When Regina brought Imaobong to me,
she told me that the man responsible for
the pregnancy was unable of take care
of her.
"The N30, 000 I collected from her was
for the upkeep of Imaobong before and
during delivery of the baby. I did not
collect N110, 000".