Three women were arrested at Idogbo in Ikpoba-Okah Local Government Area of Edo State by officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force from the “A” Division in Warri following the kidnap of the baby.
The prime suspect, Juliet Phillips, who operate an illegal orphanage, Godswill Ophanage at Ekpan community near Newton Agbofodo’s compound allegedly stole baby Testimony, a twin from the mother, believed to be close to imbecility, on November 28,2018.
Phillips, it was learnt, took the two-year-old baby to Deliverance Orphanage operated by her mother in Ozoro community in Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State.
It was from the Deliverance Orphanage, which is registered with the Delta State Government, that the little boy was sold (adopted) to a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, in Edo State at the rate of nine hundred thousand naira.
The cleric, it was also learnt, has renamed the two-year-old boy, Favour, before he was traced to his house in Benin-City by the police.
A retired director of Community Development, Ministry of Women Affairs, Collins Ogbor, is allegedly involved in the sale (adoption) of the boy to the pastor.
A source within the “A” division police station, who craved anonymity, said the boy has been reunited with his mother.
The police source said the files of the suspects, who are helping the police with useful information, will be transferred to the Department of Public Prosecution, DPP, on Monday for advice.
The mother of the boy, who daily begs for alms at Effurun market, went for her usual business that fateful day when Juliet Phillips, accosted her pretending to be nice to her and the children.
It was also learnt that Juliet offered to assist the vulnerable woman with a job at Igbudu market and she accepted.
Both of them boarded a commercial tricycle popularly referred to as keke to Igbudu market.
Juliet said the vulnerable woman should pay for her own transportation because she can only afford to pay for herself.
Already Juliet under pretence of help, backed one of the children (the boy) as the two of them were sleeping.
Immediately they arrived Igbudu market, Juliet hurriedly paid for herself before they got down from the Keke and before the woman finish paying and collecting her balance from the commercial tricycle operator, Juliet disappeared with the child she backed.
It was learnt that the vulnerable woman cried over her missing child in Effurun market, drawing the attention of sympathizers.
In the process, the President of the Nigerian Welfare Fund, Comrade Joshua Omorere was called and after carefully listening to the plight of the woman, incidented the matter to the police, who promptly launched investigation into the matter which led to the arrests of the trio.
When contacted, the Delta State Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Andrew Aniamaka, in a text message to our correspondent, confirmed the report.
The text message reads, “Yes, some persons were arrested in respect of a case of alleged child stealing/ child kidnap and the case is discretely being investigated by Warri Area Command. Pls.”
In a chat with newsmen, the President of the Nigeria Welfare Fund, Comrade Joshua Omorere confirmed the report.
He claimed that Juliet Phillips allegedly stole three children from Ekpan Primary School at Bunkering road in 2017.
Omorere said the matter should be thoroughly investigated, and if found guilty, the suspects should be prosecuted in line with the laws of the land.
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