The Bayelsa State Police Command has charged eight suspects to court over the disappearance of a one-year, 10-month-old girl, Amarachi Blessing Ogbonna, from a church premises in the state.

The child reportedly went missing on June 21, 2026, prompting the police to launch an investigation into her disappearance.

The command’s Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, said on Friday that the Violent Crime Response Unit took over the investigation from the Ekeki Division following a directive from the Commissioner of Police.

He said the unit subsequently conducted intensive investigations which led to the identification and arrest of suspects allegedly connected with the disappearance.

According to the police, the eight suspects have been charged before the High Court of Bayelsa State, Yenagoa Judicial Division, in Charge No. BYHC/YHC/CR./81/2026, and are awaiting arraignment.

The command said other persons whose involvement could not be established were released on bail.

It also dismissed reports on social media suggesting 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 during the week and the case would proceed accordingly.

Meanwhile, investigation into the child’s disappearance remains ongoing, with the command saying efforts are being sustained to locate Amarachi and reunite her with her family.

The police urged members of the public with credible information that could assist in locating the missing child to make it available to investigators as the case progresses.