The Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre, WARDC has given the Inspector General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, a 14-day ultimatum to find one Baby Joseph who it claimed is in possession of a Police officer, Samuel Ukpabio.
Inspector Ukpabio attached to the the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba in Lagos alledgedly took the child away from his mother, Fortunate Obafuoso, while claiming to be acting for a government ministry.
The ultimatum is with effect from Wednesday 8th March, and expected to last till March 22, 2023, else the women will March on the street of Lagos to attract national attention to their grievances.
WARDC, Founding Director, Dr. Abiola Akinyode-Afolabi gave the ultimatum while addressing a press conference, at its commemoration of the 2023 International Women’s Day, with the theme: DigitALL: Innovation & Technology for Gender Equality.
Over 140 women groups, market and civil right organisations gathered in Lagos to discuss the issues affecting women and how to mitigate their problems.
The women wants the government to address the issue of sexual and gender-based violence among other challenges.
Speaking further, Dr. Akiyode-Afolabi, said, “Today is International Women’s Day and we are looking at how digitalisation can be use to promote gender equality.
She said the women are converged to look at the issues government can use digitalisation to address.
Dr. Akinyode-Afolabi advocated on behalf of the mother of the ‘missing’ baby, alleging a policeman’s involvement in abduction of her baby, which she claimed she gave to the police officer under duress.
She accused the Police officer, Samuel Ukpabio, at the State Criminal Investigation Department, of seizing her six-hour old baby from his mother, Fortune on the same day the baby was born, on the premise that she was arrested over human trafficking violation.
According to her, “We cannot celebrate International Women’s Day when a woman has experienced such a grievous violation without forthcoming justice.”
Speaking further the women group are displeased at the silence on transfer of the case against Mr. Samuel Ukpabio for unlawful abduction and human trafficking of a-day old baby of Mrs. Fortunate Obhafuoso to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP.
She informed the media, that a petition has been sent to the Police to produce the baby.
WARDC said a petition addressed to the Police is yet to be responded to.
She said” On 6th February 2023, a petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police to transfer the case against Mr. Samuel Ukpabio; a Police officer at the Child Trafficking Department, Panti C.I.D of the Nigeria Police Force, Yaba Lagos, for Abduction and Human Trafficking of a day-old baby of Mrs Fortunate Obhafuoso to an unknown person and destination.
Concerned about this circumstances, 141 human and women’s rights organisations led by WARDC petitioned the Inspector General of Police to transfer the case to National Agency For The Prohibition of Trafficking In Person, NAPTIP, for prompt prosecution and rescue of the baby.
