Delta State: Police Arrest Woman for Allegedly Staging Abduction and Selling Her Two-Month-Old Baby
By Edeki Igafe | Warri, Delta State | Dec. 19, 2025
The Delta State Police Command has made a startling arrest, uncovering a case where a mother allegedly fabricated a kidnapping to conceal the sale of her own infant. This incident, which occurred on Monday along the Ekpan Link Road in Uvwie Local Government Area, reveals a disturbing intersection of desperation, crime, and the illicit trade in children.
The suspect, identified as Rita Ughale, initially reported to the Ekpan Police Division that her two-month-old baby had been snatched during a robbery while she was traveling in a tricycle. In response, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Labe Joseph, immediately mobilized officers for a swift search and rescue operation, treating the case with the urgency a reported child abduction demands.
Unraveling the Fabrication: From Victim to Suspect
However, during the investigation, officers noted significant inconsistencies in Ughale’s narrative and her overall suspicious conduct. Police Spokesman SP Bright Edafe explained that these red flags prompted a more intensive interrogation. Under questioning, the suspect’s story collapsed. She allegedly confessed to staging the entire abduction scenario.
The grim truth, according to the police, was that Ughale had sold her infant to a couple for the sum of N1.5 million. This revelation shifts the case from one of a violent robbery to a premeditated act of child trafficking. The police swiftly acted on this confession, arresting the alleged buyers and successfully rescuing the baby, who is now in protective custody.
Context and Underlying Issues: A Deeper Look at Child Trafficking
While this case is shocking, it is not an isolated incident. It highlights a broader, underreported crisis of child trafficking and illegal adoption rings, often driven by complex socio-economic pressures. Potential motivations for such an act can include extreme poverty, lack of social support systems, coercion, or mental health struggles. The N1.5 million price tag underscores the brutal commodification of human life within these illicit networks.
The police’s ability to detect the inconsistencies in the report is a critical lesson in investigative diligence. It demonstrates how initial reports, even from a presumed victim, must be thoroughly vetted. The swift coordination by the DPO also shows the importance of a rapid response in child-related cases, which in this instance, ironically, led to the unraveling of the crime itself.
Legal Ramifications and Ongoing Efforts
All suspects, including the mother and the purchasing couple, are currently in police custody as investigations continue. SP Edafe confirmed that efforts are intensified to arrest other possible accomplices. The charges will likely be severe, potentially under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act and laws against kidnapping and fraud.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities within society. It underscores the need for robust social welfare programs to support struggling families, increased public awareness about the signs of child trafficking, and continued vigilance from law enforcement to dismantle the networks that profit from such desperation. The rescue of the child is a positive outcome, but the circumstances that led to this point reveal a profound societal challenge that extends far beyond a single arrest.
Edited by Yakubu Uba | Source: NAN (www.nannews.ng)
