Police rescue two children that were stolen from parents at gunpoint

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has rescued babies Daniel Ekwere and Goodness Okon, aged one month, three weeks and six months, who were stolen from their parents at gunpoint.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, said on Friday in a media briefing in Uyo that as at the time the six months old baby was rescued, the abductors have concluded plans to sell the baby off at N400,000.
He said: “Based on a tip-off, the operatives of anti child theft ambushed and arrested four robbery/child stealing syndicate namely, Emmanuel Sunday Effiong ‘m’, Ibanga Sunday Effiong ‘m’, Editi Ibanga Effiong ‘f’ and Idorenyin Etim Iron ‘f’ of Ikot Okubo, Ibesikpo Asutan and rescued the six months old baby.
“Investigation revealed that the syndicate used motorbike on 8/10/2021 around 9.00 pm, masked their faces and invaded the house of Mr/Mrs Effiong Okon Udo of Ikot Okubo Ibesikpo Asutan LGA on gunpoint, beat the couple, inflicted them with various degrees of injuries and abducted their six (6) months old baby girl by name, Goodness Effiong Okon.
“Both Ibanga Sunday and Emmanuel Effiong Sunday are ex-convicts for robbery/cultism. As at the time of the rescue, arrangement had been concluded to sell the child for four hundred thousand naira (N400, 000.00).”
Speaking on the one month and six weeks infant, Macdon added, “The suspect, a 40-old Margaret Friday Akpan of Ekpene Ukim Uruan, went to the house of the mother’s victim, Mrs Blessing Jackson Ekwere, ‘f’, pretending to be sick and thereafter sent the said Blessing Jackson Ekwere to buy drugs for her.
“The suspect ran away with her one month, three weeks old baby boy by name baby Daniel Jackson Ekwere before the mother, Blessing Ekwere returned from where she went to buy the drugs for her.”
According to the PPRO, the two babies have been rescued and reunited with their parents, noting that all the suspects would be charged as soon as investigations are concluded.
Speaking in an interview, Mrs Effiong Udo, the mother of the six months old baby expressed joy that her child was reunited with her, but said she still suffers excruciating pains on her spinal cord as one of the suspects kicked her on the back to take the baby away from her.
Mother of the one month, three weeks old baby, Blessing Ekwere stated that when she called the suspect on phone asking for the whereabouts of her baby, the suspect claimed she didn’t see her baby, adding that she only went to the hospital as her stomach ache became severe.
“When I called her she denied carrying the baby and said she had to rush to the hospital that the pain was becoming unbearable. I quickly called my husband who informed the police,” Blessing narrated.
She explained that when it became obvious that the suspect could not hide due to the phone calls she received, she packaged the baby in a Ghana- must-go-bag and took to her daughter’s house in Ekpene Ukim, where she was nearly mobbed before the police arrived and arrested her.
Meanwhile, Macdon stated that the command has also arrested 136 suspects within the period under review including 11 murder suspects, 47 armed robbery and stealing suspects, 10 defilement and rape suspects, 21 suspected cultists, 16 suspected vandals, 7 kidnap suspects and 24 others including child theft and other criminal activities.
He explained that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as investigations are concluded, stressing that the Police Commissioner, Andrew Amiengheme has remained committed in making the State unsafe for criminals to stay.