Newborn sold for ₦145,000 as A’Ibom police bust child trafficking ring

Etim Ekpimah

A newborn baby boy, allegedly sold for ₦145,000 without his father’s consent, has been rescued by operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command following the arrest of three women suspected of running a child trafficking syndicate in the state.

The baby, born on 7 May 2026, was reportedly sold shortly after birth in a shocking case that has exposed an alleged illegal child trafficking and adoption network operating within Akwa Ibom.

Police said the breakthrough came on 13 May 2026 at about 7:00 pm when operatives, acting on credible intelligence and working with relevant stakeholders, arrested three female suspects over alleged child trafficking, conspiracy and the unlawful sale of the newborn.

The suspects were identified as Ekemini Godwin, 19, of Ikot Obioma Village; Endurance Sunday, 26, of Nkwot Ikono Village; and Alice Emmanuel, 50, also of Nkwot Ikono Village.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the baby’s father, identified as Sifon, reported that his wife gave birth to the child on 7 May. He alleged that shortly after delivery, the suspects conspired and sold the baby boy to one Eno Peter of Ikpe Atai Village for ₦145,000 without his knowledge or approval.

Following the complaint, police launched an immediate operation that led to the arrest of the suspects and the successful rescue of the infant.

The suspects reportedly confessed during interrogation, while investigations have been expanded to identify and arrest other individuals linked to the trafficking syndicate, including possible collaborators in a wider illegal child adoption network operating within and outside Akwa Ibom State.

The child trafficking bust formed part of wider intelligence-led operations by the command targeting criminal networks across the state.

In another operation on the same day, police operatives raided a suspected criminal hideout at Efa Village in Etinan Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of one suspect, Bassey Dennis, 32, of Ata Efa Village, Etinan LGA.

Recovered items included one serviceable Dane gun, one live cartridge, dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, and substances believed to be Crystal Methamphetamine, popularly known as “ice”.

Police described the recovered firearm and hard drugs as a serious threat to public safety and said investigations were ongoing to trace the source of the weapon, identify accomplices and dismantle associated criminal networks.

Similarly, on 14 May 2026 at about 11:00 am, operatives conducting stop-and-search operations along Abak Road, Uyo, intercepted a suspicious silver BMW 5 Series saloon car without registration plates.

Police said the unidentified driver abandoned the vehicle in the middle of the road and fled before he could be arrested.

The vehicle was recovered and taken into police custody for forensic and ownership investigations to determine whether it is linked to theft, armed robbery or other criminal activities.

Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohammed Azare, commended the professionalism and tactical efficiency of officers involved in the operations.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to sustained intelligence-led policing, continuous raids on criminal hideouts and strategic enforcement measures aimed at dismantling criminal networks and denying offenders a haven in Akwa Ibom State.

Azare also warned those involved in child trafficking, cultism, armed robbery, illegal firearms possession and drug trafficking to abandon criminal activities or face the full weight of the law.

He reassured residents that the Command would continue intensifying efforts to protect lives and property while urging the public to remain vigilant and provide timely, credible and actionable information to security agencies.

The police added that community partnership remains vital in the fight against crime and assured residents that all information provided would be treated with strict confidentiality.