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.

State police spokesperson, DSP Timfon John, confirmed the arrest in a statement released on Wednesday. According to John, the arrests followed a complaint from a woman (name withheld) who reported that Ibanga had lured her six-year-old daughter and taken her to an undisclosed location.

Acting swiftly on credible intelligence, police operatives launched an investigation and arrested Ibanga and Akpan. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to selling their child in May 2024 for N450,000, with the assistance of one Saviour Aniedi. Further investigations revealed that Ibanga had also conspired with Aniedi and his wife to abduct the complainant’s daughter, who was later sold in Aba, Abia State, to an unidentified buyer.

The statement read, “On 15th June 2024, a woman (name withheld) from Afaha Atai Village in Ibesikpo Asutan LGA reported that Christiana Uwem Ibanga, a female resident of Ekamba Nsukara Village in Uyo LGA, lured her six-year-old daughter and took her to an unknown destination.

“Acting promptly on credible intelligence, our operatives immediately swung into action and arrested Christiana Uwem Ibanga and her accomplice, Inyene Etuk Akpan, on 14th January 2025 in Abuja.

“During interrogation, the suspects admitted to selling their child in May 2024 for N450,000 with the assistance of one Saviour Aniedi. Christiana further confessed to conspiring with Saviour Aniedi and his wife to steal the complainant’s child, who was later sold in Aba, Abia State, to an unidentified buyer.”

John further disclosed that an operation was underway in Aba to track down the buyer, adding that significant progress had been made, and the police were closing in on the suspects.

She stated, “On 23rd January 2025, investigators extended their operations to Aba in pursuit of the buyer and the missing child. While the suspects in Aba remain elusive, the command assures the public that substantial progress has been made. Our operatives are closing in on the perpetrators, and their apprehension is imminent.”

John warned criminals that they had only two options: to turn a new leaf or face the law. She also revealed that, during the period under review, police operatives arrested several suspected illicit drug dealers, mostly women, and recovered weapons from them.

“As part of intensified efforts to rid the state of criminal elements, on 26th January 2025, the command’s operatives conducted a strategic raid,” she said.

The operation targeted identified blackspots, including hotels, brothels, and compounds in Nto Nsek Village and surrounding areas, with the goal of clamping down on illicit drug activities and other crimes.

According to John, the operation led to the arrest of Happiness Malachi George, who was apprehended for selling Indian hemp and other substances. Additionally, a coordinated raid on a brothel in Ikot Ebong Village, Odoro Ikot Clan, resulted in the arrest of two female suspects: Queen Sambo Umoren, 28, and Joy Chima Inyene-Obong Patrick Michael, 28. Substances suspected to be Indian hemp and a jackknife were found in their possession.

“Furthermore, the team intercepted Ekemini-Abasi Micah Silas, 32, who was caught mounting an illegal roadblock at Ikot Ekpenyong Village in Odoro Ikot Clan. He was found with suspected illicit drugs. While some suspects managed to flee during the operation, proactive measures are in place to track and apprehend them,” she added.