Soldier, 2 health workers arrested for allegedly stealing and selling newborn in Cross River
By Joe Udo
AKAMKPA (CONVERSEER) – Two health workers and a serving female soldier have been arrested over the alleged theft and sale of a newborn baby in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state.
Zagazola Makama reports that the suspects were apprehended after the baby’s mother, 19-year-old Justina Valentine Boniface of Aningeje village, raised an alarm.
Boniface said she delivered a baby boy on 12th August 2025 at the Primary Health Centre in Aningeje, where she had registered for antenatal care.
She alleged that while she slept at night after delivery, two health workers on duty, identified as Ndifon Nelly Ekpu, 45, and Obi Mary Baken, 38, conspired to steal the baby.
According to her, the health workers told her that the child had died and was buried within the facility, but she later discovered this to be false, prompting her to report to the police.
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Police said the two health workers were arrested and confessed to selling the baby to a buyer, identified as W/Sgt. Aisha Yakubu, a serving member of the Nigerian Army, who was also arrested.
The police added that efforts were ongoing to arrest the final receiver of the stolen child and recover the baby.
Efforts for Converseer to get the reaction of the police spokesperson in the state, SP Irene Ugbo-Obase, proved abortive at the time of filing this report.
