The Bayelsa State Police Command has charged eight suspects before the High Court of the state over the disappearance of a one-year, 10-month-old girl, Amarachi Blessing Ogbonna, from a church premises in Yenagoa.
The child reportedly went missing on June 21, 2026, prompting the police to commence an investigation into the circumstances surrounding her disappearance.
The Command’s Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, saying the Violent Crime Response Unit took over the investigation from the Ekeki Police Division on the directive of the Commissioner of Police.
Mohammed said the unit subsequently intensified efforts to unravel the circumstances surrounding the child’s disappearance, leading to the identification and arrest of suspects allegedly linked to the case.
According to the police, eight suspects have been charged before the High Court of Bayelsa State, Yenagoa Judicial Division, in Charge No. BYHC/YHC/CR./81/2026.
The statement read in part, “Based on the facts and evidence so far established, eight suspects have been charged to court and are awaiting arraignment before the High Court of Bayelsa State, Yenagoa Judicial Division, in Charge No. BYHC/YHC/CR./81/2026.”
The Command said other persons whose involvement could not be established had been released on bail.
It also dismissed reports circulating on social media alleging that the police had failed to act on the case, explaining that the delay in arraigning the suspects was caused by the court’s vacation.
The police said the courts resumed proceedings this week and that the case was expected to proceed accordingly.
Meanwhile, the Command said investigations into the child’s disappearance remained ongoing, with its operatives pursuing all credible leads towards locating Amarachi and returning her safely to 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 assured that it would continue to take lawful steps to establish the circumstances surrounding the toddler’s disappearance and bring anyone found culpable to justice.