The Police Command in Ebonyi has detained a middle-aged man, Chukwuma Onwe, for allegedly selling his 5-day-old son for N1.5 million.
Onwe, a native of Nwezenyi-Igbeagu Community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state, was apprehended when his would-be wife, Philomena Iroko, alerted her neighbour, who informed the police of the husband’s action.
The baby boy was said to have been sold to one Chinyere Ugochukwu, a female, who has also been nabbed by the police.
SP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Abakaliki, that the baby had been recovered from the alleged buyer.
Ukandu said that the father of the child was arrested alongside the alleged buyer on Friday at the Azugwu area of Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state.
“Yes, he, Onwe, has been arrested and is currently in our custody. We are going to commence an investigation into the matter,” the PPRO said.
Iroko, the baby’s mother, said that her proposed husband took away her son to Ugochukwu (the alleged buyer) without her knowledge.
“The man, who is yet to be my husband, took the child and lied to me that he gave the baby to his sister for further care.
“I did not know that the woman he gave my son to had already paid him in exchange for my 5-day-old baby.
“Thank God, my son has been recovered and he is healthy. I commend the Nigeria Police Force,” she added.
Iroko, however, pleaded to the general public for help to enable her to take care of the baby, “The father of my son told me that he would marry me, but I didn’t know that he was deceiving me all the while. Look at me, where will I run to? No husband and no one to take care of my baby. I am begging the state government and individuals to come to my assistance,” she said.
Similarly, PUNCH Online reports on January 29, 2025, that Operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command arrested a lady, Christiana Ibanga, and her boyfriend, Inyene Akpan, for allegedly trafficking their own child and selling the infant for ₦450,000.
Parading the suspects alongside others at the command headquarters, Ikot-Akpanabia, Uyo, the state capital, on Wednesday, the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Timfon John, said they were nabbed following a tip-off.
NAN
