The Rivers State Police Command has rescued a six-month-old child, Lucky Sunday, who was kidnapped in Port Harcourt and sold for N3.6 million.
The infant was abducted by a co-tenant of his parents, Mr. Erica (pictured) at their residence on Anekelane Street in the Mile 2 axis of Diobu on 29 September 2024.
Operatives of the Command have been on the trail of the suspect since the abduction.
Their efforts finally paid off when detectives attached to the Mile 1 Police Division trailed the suspect to Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, arrested and transported him back to Port Harcourt.
It was gathered that 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 whom 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.
“Yes, I saw my baby yesterday (Sunday). But the police didn’t allow me to take him yet because they said they wanted to go to court,” he said.
“The suspect who took the baby and the others have been arrested. They are six in all, and they are at the Mile 1 Police Division.”
The spokesperson for the State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the rescue of the child to the punch and the arrest of the suspects, adding that it is a child trafficking syndicate.
The PPRO also revealed that the prime suspect had previously sold his own biological child before abducting that of his neighbor.
“It is a case of a child trafficking syndicate that our men have busted. The man sold his own biological son and also abducted another child, whom he sold for N3.6 million to a lady,” she said.
“But the lady claimed she went to an orphanage to register the child for adoption in Enugu State. The child was adopted here in Port Harcourt and sold to her.
“The child has been rescued. The suspect and five others have been arrested, and investigations are ongoing.”
