25-yr OLD IJEOMA AND ACCOMPLICE APPREHENDED BY THE POLICE

A 25-year old Ijeoma (other names withheld) has been arrested by the police in connection with the theft and sale of a day-old baby last year in Aba, Abia. Ijeoma, described as the prime suspect in the case, was arrested on Sunday, 3 February, at their home in the Ogbor Hill area of the city after several months of police surveillance as she became evasive after being implicated in the matter. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that in November last year, two prophetesses, Loretta Emmanuel and Sylva Ishmael, were arrested in connection with the incident. They were alleged to have connived with others at Ekeakpara in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area of the state to steal and sell the baby, child of Grace Abaah, 24, from Abiriba in Ohafia Local Government Area of the state. On interrogation, the two prophetesses alleged that Ijeoma connected them to the lady who reportedly bought the baby for N.4m and that it was only her (Ijeoma) that could identify the woman. Following the revelation, Police mounted manhunt for Ijeoma and in December last year, one of the suspects in detention took policemen to where Ijeoma and her mother, also a prophetess reside. But before the arrival of police detectives, Ijeoma disappeared from home on a tip off and had ever since became elusive. NAN gathered that Ijeoma abandoned their home and only came on Sundays when she believed police would not come for her arrest, to collect some clothes and move away again. However, Police detectives with the help of the mother of the baby, were able to monitor Ijeoma’s movement which eventually led to her arrest on 3 February. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at the Central Police Station, Aba, confirmed the report, saying the suspect was helping them in their investigation.