The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested Christiana Ibanga and her boyfriend, Inyene Akpan, for allegedly selling their child for N450,000 in 2024. Police spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, confirmed the arrests in a statement on Wednesday.
The arrests followed a report from a source who claimed that Ibanga had lured her six-year-old daughter and taken her to an unknown location. Acting on credible intelligence, police quickly launched an investigation and apprehended Ibanga and Akpan on January 14, 2025, in Abuja.
During questioning, the suspects admitted to selling their own child for N450,000 in May 2024, with the help of an accomplice, Saviour Aniedi. Further investigation revealed that Ibanga had also conspired with Aniedi and his wife to steal the complainant’s daughter, who was later sold to an unknown buyer in Aba, Abia State.
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The police have since extended their investigation to Aba in pursuit of the buyer, and significant progress has been made, with operatives closing in on the suspects. Although the buyer remains elusive, the police assured the public that the apprehension of the perpetrators is imminent.
Additionally, the police reported progress in their efforts to combat other crimes, including drug trafficking. On January 26, 2025, they conducted a strategic raid on blackspots in the state, targeting hotels, brothels, and compounds linked to illicit drug activities. The operation led to the arrest of several suspects, including Happiness Malachi George, a woman involved in the sale of Indian hemp, and two women, Queen Sambo Umoren and Joy Chima Inyene-Obong Patrick Michael, who were found with drugs and a jackknife. Another suspect, Ekemini-Abasi Micah Silas, was arrested for setting up an illegal roadblock and possessing illicit drugs. While some suspects escaped, the police are actively pursuing them.
