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The Suspects
Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command have arrested Christiana Ibanga and her boyfriend, Inyene Akpan, for allegedly engaging in human trafficking and selling their child for N450,000.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, disclosed this while parading the suspects, along with others, at the command headquarters in Ikot-Akpanabia, Uyo, on Wednesday.
According to John, the arrests followed a complaint by a woman (name withheld), who alleged that Ibanga had lured her six-year-old daughter away and taken her to an unknown destination.
“On June 15, 2024, a woman from Afaha Atai Village in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA reported that Christiana Uwem Ibanga of Ekamba Nsukara Village in Uyo LGA had lured her six-year-old daughter and taken her to an unknown location,” John stated.
“Acting on credible intelligence, our operatives swung into action and arrested Christiana Uwem Ibanga and her accomplice, Inyene Etuk Akpan, on January 14, 2025, in Abuja,” she added.
During interrogation, the suspects admitted to selling their own child in May 2024 for N450,000 with the assistance of one Saviour Aniedi. Ibanga further confessed to conspiring with Aniedi and his wife to steal the complainant’s child, who was later sold in Aba, Abia State, to an unidentified buyer.
“In our efforts to recover the stolen child, investigators extended their operations to Aba on January 23, 2025, in pursuit of the buyer,” John said.
“While the suspects in Aba remain elusive, the command assures the public that substantial progress has been made. Our operatives are closing in on the perpetrators, and their arrest is imminent,” she added.
The command’s spokesperson warned criminals that they had only two options—either to reform or leave the state. She also disclosed that during the period under review, the police arrested suspected illicit drug dealers, mostly women, and recovered weapons from them.
“As part of intensified efforts to rid the state of criminal elements, on January 26, 2025, operatives conducted a strategic raid targeting identified black spots, including hotels, brothels, and specific compounds in Nto Nsek Village and its environs,” John revealed.
The operation led to the arrest of a female suspect, Happiness Malachi George, for allegedly dealing in Indian hemp and other substances.
“In a coordinated effort, the team also raided a brothel in Ikot Ebong Village, Odoro Ikot Clan, where two female suspects, Queen Sambo Umoren, 28, and Joy Chima Inyene-Obong Patrick Michael, 28, were arrested. Substances suspected to be Indian hemp and a jackknife were recovered from them,” John stated.
Additionally, operatives intercepted Ekemini-Abasi Micah Silas, 32, who was caught mounting an illegal roadblock at Ikot Ekpenyong Village in Odoro Ikot Clan. He was found in possession of suspected illicit drugs.
“While some suspects managed to escape during the operation, proactive measures are in place to track and apprehend them,” John assured.
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