The Abia State Police Command has arrested four suspects over the alleged theft and sale of a four-day-old baby who was taken from her mentally ill mother.
The suspects were identified as Gladys Nathaniel, 48; Victor Udochukwu, 47; Chijioke Obunwa, 59; and Onyeonoro Chinwe, 43.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Maureen Chinaka, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.
According to Chinaka, operatives of the Violent Crimes Response Unit and the Rapid Response Unit, Obehie, arrested the suspects on September 16, 2026, following credible and actionable intelligence.
She said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly conspired to take the four-day-old baby from her mother and subsequently sold the infant to another person.
The police spokesperson said the investigation led to the recovery of the baby and the rescue of the mother.
She explained that the mother had been released to her family for proper care and medical attention, while the baby was handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs for protective custody.
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Chinaka said the suspects remained in police custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department as investigations continued.
She added that the suspects would be charged to court after the conclusion of the investigation.
The Commissioner of Police in Abia State, Wilfred Afolabi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and ensuring that anyone found responsible for such crimes is brought to justice.
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