River Police arrest Five for stealing, selling baby for N2m

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested five members of a suspected child trafficking syndicate accused of deceiving vulnerable young mothers and stealing their babies.

In a statement on Monday, the command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the group operated by using fake scans to manipulate pregnant women and take their newborns under false pretences.

According to the statement, the leader of the group, 54-year-old Blessing Jack, was arrested in Port Harcourt on October 9, which led to the capture of four other members identified as Marley Obur, Chinonso Raymond, Chinyere Okorie, and Nkechi Nwankwo.

“A conversation between Blessing Jack and one Marley Oburu revealed the syndicate’s modus operandi,” Iringe-Koko said. “She discussed a recent incident where her associate had taken a woman’s baby, claiming the baby had died, but had been paid two million naira for the transaction.”

The police spokesperson added that investigations showed Jack had previously served a three-year prison sentence in Calabar for child trafficking, indicating her long-term involvement in the illegal trade.

All five suspects reportedly confessed to their roles in the crime and are currently in police custody as investigations continue to track down other members of the network.