Police arrest couple in Akwa Ibom for ‘selling their daughter for N450k’

The Akwa Ibom police command says it has arrested a cohabiting couple over alleged child trafficking.

Speaking on Thursday during a press briefing in Uyo, Timfon John, the police spokesperson in the state, said the suspects were arrested on January 14 in Abuja.

John said the suspects, identified as Christiana Ibanga, and her boyfriend, Inyene Akpan, reportedly sold their six-year-old daughter for N450,000.

She added that the duo confessed to selling the child in May 2024, through the help of one Saviour Aniedi, their ally. 

“Acting promptly on credible intelligence, our operatives swung into action and arrested the suspects on January 14 in Abuja,” she said.

“During interrogation, the suspects admitted to selling their own child for N450,000 with the assistance of an ally, Saviour Aniedi, in May, 2024.

“On Jan. 23 our investigators extended their operations to Aba in Abia in pursuit of the buyer and the missing child.”

The police spokesperson added that the command also arrested three suspects over alleged illicit drug sale in the state.

John said one of the suspects, identified as Happiness George, was apprehended for allegedly selling hemp and other illicit substances.

She said the two other suspects — Queen Umoren and Joy Chima — were arrested with illicit drugs at a brothel in Ikot Ebong village in Odoro Ikot clan.

John warned criminals operating in Akwa Ibom to desist or face the full wrath of the law.