Police arrest pastor, five others for alleged child theft in Akwa Ibom

By INIABASI UMO, Uyo

The Akwa Ibom State Police Command said it has arrested a Pastor, Mrs Mmayen Odiuotip and five others for stealing and selling a baby in 2018.

The 39-year-old Pastor, who confessed to the crime, was said to have explained that she bought the baby for her sister, one Esther Esin.

According to a press release signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP N-Nudam Fredrick, the suspects were arrested after an intelligence report.

“The suspects were arrested following a credible intelligence that sometime in June, 2020, the kingpin of the syndicate, one Rose Bassey Asuquo Ekpenyong ‘f’ conspired with the aforementioned suspects and sold a stolen baby girl in 2018 to one Pastor (Mrs.) Mmayen Etim Otu, who is the Founder of Land of Testimony Ministry, Oron.

“The said Pastor, who was swiftly arrested, confessed to the offence and opened a can of worms that the baby was bought for her sister, one Esther Effanga Esin ‘f’.

“Consequently, the Operatives swung into action and apprehended her while the baby was rescued,” the statement read. (Text, excluding headline, courtesy Daily Trust)