By Patrick Odey, Punch Newspaper
The Anti-Child Theft Unit of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested a Medical Doctor, Victor Onongha, for alleged child theft.
Onongha, who works with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH) was arrested alongside a laboratory scientist, Hope Offor, and 15 others.
The command said in a statement on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, Nnudam Fredrick, that a five-month-old baby was recovered from the suspects.
The statement said the suspects were arrested on May 8, 2020, in the Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State and Calabar, Cross River State, following a tip-off.
According to the statement, one Grace Davis conspired with her sister, Abigail Davis, to sell her child for N250,000 to the Medical Doctor.
The statement read in part, “The suspects were arrested in Itu, Akwa Ibom State, and Calabar, Cross River State, following a tip-off that one Grace Asuquo Davis, the mother of a five-month-old baby, conspired with her sister, one Abigail Asuquo Davis, and sold the said child at the cost of N250,000 to one Dr. Victor Onongha.
“The transaction was perfected through two human trafficking agents, Clement Edem and Ekaette Okon Akpan.
“The said Doctor was arrested and he confessed to the offence and led the Police to arrest one Hope Jonah, a lab scientist working at the General Hospital, Calabar, who bought the child from him.
“On further interrogation, Hope Jonah confessed to the offence and also led the Police to the Nigerian Army barracks, Eburutu, Calabar, where one Mrs. Patience Livingstone was arrested and the baby was recovered.
“Patience Livingstone, on her part, admitted that her husband, Orji Livingstone, bought the child at the cost of N660,000 from the lab scientist, Hope Jonah Offor.”
Fredrick, who said the case was still under investigation, added that the suspects would be arraigned soon.
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