Delta State Police Command’s Public Relations Officer, Bright Edafe, has revealed that two women, Tessi Ikechukwu and Lauretta Akomen, were arrested for buying a newborn baby boy from a Port Harcourt “baby factory” for N2 million.
According to Edafe, the women were apprehended thanks to the quick thinking of a commercial motorcycle rider who overheard their conversation and diverted them to the Ekpan Police Station instead of the buyer’s location.
Lauretta Akomen, 38, confessed to buying the baby from a traditional home where teenage girls are impregnated and their babies sold.
Akomen also revealed using drugs to feign pregnancy.
Edafe stated that Akomen led the Divisional Police Officer, Aliyu Shaba, and operatives to the house of a woman simply identified as Gloria. an agent between Akomen and the traditional home.
According to Edafe, the suspects are currently in custody, and a manhunt for other accomplices is ongoing.
He said: “The tricycle rider smartly diverted the two women: Tessi Ikechukwu, and Lauretta Akomen, and the newborn baby to Ekpan Police Station where they were also arrested.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the suspects, Lauretta Akomen (female) aged 38yrs bought the baby for the sum of N2,000,000 from a traditional home located in Port Harcourt where they harbour teenage girls, and got men to have sex with them till they are pregnant after which they sell the babies to people looking for children.
“The suspect also revealed that she was given a drug which she took for some time to make her look pregnant.
”She later led the DPO, CSP Aliyu Shaba and operatives to the house of one Gloria (surname unknown) who acted as an agent between her and the traditional home.”
