Police have arrested two suspected child thieves in Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom State.
Our correspondent gathered that two suspects were cooling their heels at Eket Divisional Police Headquarters for theft of a five-year old child named Joy Thomas.
According to the parents, one Mr Ogechukwu One who is now in police custody allegedly stole Joy Thomas at their residence, 10 Etebi Street, Eket at about 7:30 pm on Monday, May 7.
Narrating her ordeal, Mrs. Ngozi Thomas, the mother of the stolen child said that Joy’s twin brother alerted her uncle that came to the house and picked his sister while they were doing their home work.
She explained that few hours while searching for Joy, she came across one of the suspects and demanded for her child but the suspect denied knowledge of stealing the child.
Mrs Thomas said that she raised alarm of her missing daughter and sent for her husband who was away from home.
“The said accused Mr Ibe, one is my husband’s cousin from the same village at Akunu Ohafia in Abia state allegedly stole my child,” she said.
Confirming the matter, Mr Thomas Udo, father of the stolen child said the suspect comes from his village and has been coming to the house without him suspecting any foul play from him.
“Mr Ibe has been coming to my house in Eket and I used to take him as my brother. I even ask my wife to prepare food for him each time he comes to the house,” he said.
Pastor Jasper Ukaha, the President-General of Ohafia Improvement Union, Eket branch said the matter was reported to him on Tuesday, May 8 and requested that the matter be reported to the police in Eket.
Ukaha told newsmen that the police move to action immediately which led to the arrest of the two suspects including the principal suspect, Mr Ibe.
DSP MacDon Ogbeche, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO told newsmen in Eket on Tuesday that the two suspected who were arrested had confessed to the act, saying that the child was sold for N300,000 to the buyer.
“On the 9th of May, the father of the child reported the case to the police at Eket Divisional Police Headquarters.They sold the child to somebody at Uyo,” Ogbeche said.
He said that effort was ongoing by the police to retrieve the child to the parents.
“They sold the girl to somebody at Uyo, efforts is ongoing to track the person. The person they sold the child is at large.
“The person will be picked up and the child will be recovered by God’s grace,” Ogbeche said.
He said that the suspects are in the police custody.
