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The Abia State Police Command has arrested four suspects over alleged conspiracy, child stealing and trafficking after a four-day-old baby was reportedly stolen from her mentally unstable mother.
The suspects, identified as Gladys Nathaniel, 48; Victor Udochukwu, 47; Chijioke Obunwa, 59; and Onyeonoro Chinwe, 43, were arrested on September 16, 2026, by operatives of the Violent Crimes Response Unit and Rapid Response Unit, Obehie.
According to a statement issued on Monday by the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Maureen Chioma Chinaka, the suspects were apprehended following credible intelligence and police investigation.
The police alleged that the suspects conspired to steal the infant from her mother and subsequently sold the baby to another person.
The Command said operatives rescued both the four-day-old baby and her mother during the operation. The mother has been reunited with her family for proper care and medical attention, while the infant was handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs for protective custody.
The four suspects remain in police custody as investigation continues at the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID. The Command said they would be charged to court after the conclusion of investigations.
The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Wilfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and ensuring that those responsible for the alleged crime are brought to justice.
