The Akwa Ibom State Police Command has apprehended one Comfort Effiong, who is suspected to be a member of a child trafficking syndicate, and recovered a week-old baby from her.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Imohimi Edgal, who said this at a media briefing on Thursday, said Effiong, 42, was arrested on March 9, 2020, by personnel of the Family Unit of the command, who responded to a distress call.

Edgal said one Stella Edet of Okopedi village had reported that in 2018 that she went to the Sapodic Clinic, Ukanafun, where she was given an injection for pregnancy, which caused her stomach to swell up.

The CP stated, “On March 9, 2020, around 9pm following a distress call, operatives of the Family Unit proceeded to the Ifa Atai village and arrested one Comfort Edet Effiong, 42, a traditional birth attendant.

“The arrest followed an allegation by one Stella Francis Edet, 26, of Okopedi village, Okobo Local Government Area of the state, that she went to the Sapodic Clinic, Ukanafun, in 2018, where one Dr Saturday Aaron gave her an injection for pregnancy, which caused her stomach to swell up.

“That she received a call on March 9, 2020, from one Mfon, now at large, that she was due for delivery.

“However, on getting to the delivery home, the traditional birth attendant gave her an injection in her lap to prevent her from feeling pains, and thereafter told her to lie on the floor.

“After a while, she noticed that the birth attendant covered her face with a wrapper, used razor to cut her pelvis, and thereafter brought a baby, claiming that she was delivered of the baby.

“That she raised the alarm that she was not the mother of the child and a fight ensued between them.”

The CP said investigation revealed that Edet paid the traditional birth attendant the sum N800,000 for the delivery. (Source: PUNCH)