A woman identified as Rita Ughale has confessed to staging the abduction of her two-month-old baby after selling the infant to a couple for ₦1.5m.
Ughale reportedly raised a false alarm at the Ekpan Police Division, claiming that the baby was snatched during a robbery while she was travelling in a tricycle.
Investigations by the police later revealed that the alleged abduction was fictitious, leading to her confession that she had willingly sold the baby to a couple, Osas Omijie, 39, and Judith Omijie, 30.
Following the development, operatives of the Ekpan Division arrested the woman and the couple, while the baby was rescued during the operation.
The suspects are currently being detained as investigations continue.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday.
The statement read, “On 15th December 2025 at about 1840hrs, one Rita Ughale, female, of Kokori, Ethiope East Local Government Area, reported at the Ekpan Police Division that her two-month-old baby was snatched from her during a robbery incident while transiting in a tricycle.
“Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Ekpan Division, CSP Labe Joseph, immediately mobilised operatives of the Division and coordinated a swift search and rescue operation.
“During the course of the investigation, inconsistencies and suspicious conduct observed in the complainant’s narrative prompted further interrogation.
“The complainant subsequently confessed that the report was staged, and revealed that she had sold her child aged two (2) months old to one Osas Omijie, male, aged 39 years, and Judith Omijie, female, aged 30 years, for the sum of One Million Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦1,500,000).
“The suspects were arrested, and the infant was successfully rescued and is safe. All suspects are currently in custody while investigation continues, with efforts intensified to arrest other accomplices for prosecution.”