Operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have successfully rescued a six-month-old child, Lucky Sunday, who was kidnapped over a month ago by a co-tenant of the child’s parents at their residence on Anekelane Street in the Mile 2 axis of Diobu in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The suspect, identified as Mr Erica, abducted the infant on Sunday, 29 September 2024, and reportedly fled with the child to Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State. The Rivers State Police Command has been on his trail ever since, spreading their dragnet to ensure his arrest and prosecution.
The manhunt for the fleeing suspect finally paid off when detectives attached to the Mile 1 Police Division trailed him to Uyo, leading to his arrest and transportation back to Port Harcourt. During interrogation, the prime suspect revealed to the police that he sold the baby for N3.6 million to an unidentified female buyer who took the child to Enugu State.
Following a discreet investigation, detectives attached to the Mile 1 Police Division rescued the child on Sunday, 3 November 2024, and arrested the buyer and four other accomplices, bringing the total number of suspects to six. All of the suspects are currently detained at the Mile 1 Police Station in Port Harcourt.
The father of the child, Anekan Sunday, confirmed the rescue of his baby and the arrest of the six suspects. The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, also confirmed the rescue and arrest, stating that it is a child trafficking syndicate.
Iringe-Koko revealed that the prime suspect had previously sold his own biological child before abducting that of his neighbour. A rights advocate and National Coordinator of the Centre for Basic Rights Protection and Accountability, Prince Wiro, has commended the police for their due diligence in rescuing the child and arresting the six suspects.
