Akwa Ibom State Police Command has arrested  Pastor John  (other names withheld) and his wife, Deborah, over alleged abduction of a new born baby. A police source, said the couple abducted the baby  to allegedly sell him for N300,000.00.  The pastor allegedly had a link with a  child trafficking syndicate operating   at Nung Ukot Itam, Itu Local Government Area of the state.
Commissioner of Police (CP)  Gabriel Achong, who was represented by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Mike Okoli, told Crime Watch Today that the General Overseer of a Pentecostal church,  Pastor John and his wife adopted babies from a member of their syndicate, one Esther who was the baby’s mother.
ACP Okoli explained that another member of the syndicate,  Joseph and Esther sold the baby to one Ehiemere in Port Harcourt, Rivers State for N400,000.00 before the police intelligence recovered the baby from them.
He said policemen have arrested the pastor, his wife,  and other members of the syndicate.
He said they have also arrested a 22 years old Ebong who accosted a victim, one Charlie on her way to the stream to fetch water. The suspect tied the victim’s legs to a tree, sealed her mouth and repeatedly defiled her until the victim became unconscious. The suspect abandoned her to die.
Meanwhile, Charlie was rescued by a good Samaritan who took her to a hospital. Police intelligence group was able to arrest Inichebe and the victim has identified him.
ACP Okoli stated that another suspect, Sabbath, who was delivered of twins and willingly gave out one of them, a five-day old and  sold her for N90,000.00, blaming it on poverty.
The suspect spoke to Crime Watch Today: ‘’It was poverty that led me into this mess. It is true that I sold one of my twins for N90,000.00 to  Mr Akpanam and Mr Samuel to be able to train the other baby. My husband’s family should forgive me for what I have done, it was poverty that led me into this’’.
ACP Okoli said police have recovered the baby  she sold out and arrested her and the other members of the syndicate.
Pastor John, confessing his role, said: “We have the mission to train children  and suddenly we changed our mind, when my wife and I  ventured into  selling of a new baby for N200,000.00 or N300,000.00 since we have a syndicate who could sell it for us’’
ACP Okoli said the suspect would soon be charged to court.