An 18-year-old girl, identified as Blessing Godwin, a native of Ndubia in Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has been arrested by police operatives for being in possession of a two-month-old baby suspected to have been stolen.
The suspect was picked up on August 20, 2020, by a commercial bus driver and handed over to police operatives at the Onu-Ebonyi police division in the state.
However, The Point’s correspondent gathered that the teenage girl was seen at Mbok Junction, Cross River State and did not look like a nursing mother.
On interrogation, she told the driver and other passengers in a vehicle she boarded that the child belonged to her late sister.
Police Public Relations Officer, Ebonyi Command, DSP Loveth Odah, when contacted, confirmed the report and said that the Police was investigating the matter.
He commended the commercial driver for contacting the Police.
He said, “On 20th August, at about 7:20 pm, One Onyekachi Onyekwere of Onuebonyi village, a commercial bus driver, with ash color picnic vehicle, brought to the charge room at CPS, one Blessing Godwin of Ndubia Izzi, aged 18, who was seen in possession of a two months old baby.
“He reported that at about 5 pm the same day, she was seen with the little baby at Mbok Junction, Cross River State. He told the police that, looking at the girl, she didn’t look like a breastfeeding mother. That was why he went closer and asked about the mother of the baby and the suspect claimed the baby belonged to her sister, whose name she couldn’t give.”
Odah said the suspect could not give a satisfactory account of herself, adding that when the driver insisted on knowing the whereabouts of the baby’s mother, she said that the baby’s mother was dead.
He added, “The matter is being investigated at the Central Police Station, Abakaliki. It is a very good thing that a driver is actually having it in mind to help the Police.
“The girl has no link to claim ownership of the baby. Even if the mother was late at that stage, I think the baby should be with the grandmother or kept at the motherless babies’ home; but we will not conclude yet. Let us allow her claim whatsoever she wants to claim. If she is found wanting, she will be prosecuted.”
