The Bayelsa State Police Command has charged eight suspects before the High Court of Bayelsa State over the disappearance of a 22-month-old girl, Amarachi Blessing Ogbonna, from a church premises in Yenagoa.
Amarachi reportedly disappeared from the church on June 21, 2026, prompting the police to commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Musa Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, saying the Violent Crime Response Unit was directed by the Commissioner of Police to take over the investigation from the Ekeki Division.
Mohammed said the unit subsequently intensified efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident, leading to the identification and arrest of persons allegedly linked to the child’s disappearance.
According to him, the eight suspects have been charged before the High Court of Bayelsa State, Yenagoa Judicial Division, and are awaiting arraignment in Charge No. BYHC/YHC/CR./81/2026.
The command said other persons investigated but whose involvement could not be established were released on bail.
The police also dismissed reports circulating on social media suggesting that the command had failed to take action over the missing child.
It attributed the delay in the arraignment of the suspects to the court’s vacation, noting that proceedings resumed this week.
“The narrative does not reflect the true nature of event,” the command said.
The police said investigations into the case remained ongoing, with operatives pursuing credible leads towards locating Amarachi and reuniting her with her family.
“The Police investigation remains active, with sustained efforts directed towards the safe recovery of Amarachi Blessing Ogbonna and her eventual reunion with her family,” the statement added.
The command urged members of the public to exercise caution in sharing or relying on unverified information concerning the case, particularly given the sensitive nature of the child’s disappearance.
