Bayelsa Missing Toddler: Eight Suspects Charged Over Girl’s Disappearance
Eight suspects have been charged before the High Court of Bayelsa State over the disappearance of a one-year, 10-month-old girl, Amarachi Blessing Ogbonna, from a church premises in Yenagoa.
Amarachi reportedly went missing on June 21, 2026, prompting an investigation by the Bayelsa State Police Command.
In a statement issued on Friday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, said the Violent Crime Response Unit took over the investigation from the Ekeki Division on the directive of the Commissioner of Police.
The police said sustained investigations led to the identification and arrest of eight suspects allegedly linked to the child’s disappearance. They have been charged in Charge No. BYHC/YHC/CR./81/2026 before the Yenagoa Judicial Division of the High Court.
The command said other persons investigated in connection with the case were released on bail after their involvement was not established.
The police also responded to concerns on social media that the investigation had stalled, explaining that the delay in arraigning the suspects was linked to the court’s vacation. According to the command, court proceedings resumed this week and the case is expected to continue.
However, Amarachi has yet to be located.
The police said the investigation remains active, with officers pursuing credible leads aimed at finding the child and reuniting her with her family.
The case highlights the need for continued safeguarding of young children in places where families expect them to be safe, while the investigation and court proceedings continue.
