National Daily gathered that on Independence Day, October 1, 2024, a tricycle rider, whose identity was withheld, reported suspicious activity of the child-stealing syndicate to the police.

According to him, four women boarded his tricycle, and when two alighted at the Effurun roundabout, one handed over a newborn baby to the other two women left in the tricycle.

He overheard one of the women saying, “The balance has been paid,” instructing the others to inform her upon reaching their destination.

Sensing foul play, the tricycle rider diverted the remaining two women, later identified as Tessi Ikechukwu and Lauretta Akomen, to the Ekpan Police Station.

Police investigations revealed that Akomen, 38, had purchased the baby for ₦2 million from a traditional home in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, where teenage girls are kept and impregnated by men, after which the babies are sold to individuals desperate for children.

Akomen revealed during questioning that she had been administered a drug that created the illusion of pregnancy. This was a part of a larger scheme in which she was involved. Following this revelation, she took the authorities to the home of a woman named Gloria. Gloria played a significant role as a middle person between Akomen and the traditional home connected to this unusual situation.

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At this time, both Akomen and Gloria are being held by the police while efforts to find other individuals who may have been involved in the plan are actively underway. The police are conducting a manhunt to apprehend these accomplices to ensure that all participants in this matter are brought to justice.

In response to this troubling incident, Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, expressed his appreciation for the tricycle rider who first reported the suspicious activity. He highlighted the rider’s keen observation and courageous actions, describing them as patriotic and a vital contribution to public safety. The Commissioner also encouraged members of the community to follow the tricycle rider’s example and remain watchful, as it is essential for everyone to play a part in safeguarding their neighborhoods.