Crime

See the Number of People, Rivers State Police Arrest Over Alleged Kidnapping and Sale of One-Year-Old Boy

Published by Tope Fakinlede on September 10th, 2024.

See the Number of People, Rivers State Police Arrest Over Alleged Kidnapping and Sale of One-Year-Old Boy

The Rivers State Police Command has arrested three individuals in connection with the alleged kidnapping and sale of a one-year-old boy for N1.4 million in Ubima Community, Ikwerre Local Government Area.

According to Grace Iringe-Koko, Superintendent of Police (SP) and spokesperson for the command, the child was taken from his mother, Queen Orlu, after a man named Polycarp Uzoma lured her into a forest. Uzoma then attacked her with a machete, leaving her severely injured and unconscious.

The suspects abandoned Orlu, took her son, and sold him to another individual. The police have apprehended Uzoma, the buyer, and the intermediary who connected Uzoma to the buyer.

Iringe-Koko provided further details: “On August 25, 2024, at approximately 6:35 a.m., officers from the Ubima Divisional Headquarters responded to a report about a woman found unconscious in Omeka Farmland. Upon arrival, they discovered Queen Orlu lying in a pool of blood with severe injuries and her intestines exposed due to a stomach wound.”

Investigations revealed that Uzoma, who resides in Ubima but is originally from Ohaji LGA in Imo State, had used a bicycle to transport Orlu to a remote location where he attacked her. Once she was incapacitated, Uzoma took her son, Desire Orlu, and sold him to Happiness Amadi for N1.4 million. The deal was facilitated by Chinyere Ordu, an alleged auxiliary nurse, who received N800,000 as part payment for her role in the transaction.

SP Iringe-Koko confirmed that the suspects have confessed to their involvement. The police have recovered N800,000 and a bicycle as evidence. The one-year-old boy has been rescued, and Queen Orlu is receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the University of Port-Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

The suspects and evidence are currently in police custody, and the case will proceed to court once the investigation is complete.