Two Women In Police Custody Over Sale Of Baby In Delta

Two women have been arrested in Delta State for allegedly selling a three-day-old baby for two million Naira.

Warri Sentinel learned the incident occurred on Tuesday, October 1, at Layout Junction on Jakpa Road in Uvwie Local Government Area.

According to reports, the women, identified as Tessi Ikechukwu and Lauretta Akomen, were using a commercial tricycle when the rider became suspicious of their activities. As they reached PTI Junction, one of the women reportedly received a newborn from an accomplice.

Delta State Police Public Relations Officer SP Bright Edafe confirmed the arrests on Thursday, October 3, via a press statement.

According him: “on October 1, about 6:30pm, a tricycle rider came to Ekpan police station and reported that while he was on his daily commercial operation, four women boarded his tricycle, on reaching Effurun roundabout, two of them alighted from the tricycle.

“One of the two women who alighted handed over a newborn baby boy to the women left in his tricycle and he heard one of them saying, the balance has been paid while saying that when they get to their destination, they should inform her.

“The tricycle rider smartly diverted the two women; Tessi Ikechukwu, and Lauretta Akomen, and the newborn baby to Ekpan Police Station. Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects Lauretta Akomen aged 38yrs bought the baby for the sum of Two Million Naira (N2,000,000) from a traditional home located in Port Harcourt where they harbour teenage girls, and got men to have sex with them till they are pregnant after which they sell the babies to people looking for children.

“The suspect also revealed that she was given a drug which she took for some time to make her look pregnant. She later led the DPO CSP Aliyu Shaba and operatives to the house of one Gloria (surname unknown) who acted as an agent between her and the traditional home”

Both women are currently in custody, while police continue to search for additional accomplices involved in the case.