Ebonyi Man Arrested for Selling His 5-Day-Old Baby for ₦1.5 Million
Operatives of the Ebonyi State Police Command has detained a man identified as Chukwuma Onwe for allegedly selling his five-day-old baby boy for ₦1.5 million.
According to information obtained by PulseNets, Onwe, a native of Nwezenyi-Igbeagu community in Izzi Local Government Area, was arrested after his fiancée, Philomena Iroko, raised an alarm to a neighbour who in turn alerted the police.
The newborn was reportedly sold to one Mrs. Chinyere Ugochukwu, who has also been taken into custody.
When PulseNets spoke to the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, he confirmed that both the suspect and the alleged buyer had been arrested.
“Yes, the man, Onwe, has been arrested and is currently in our custody,” Ukandu told PulseNets in Abakaliki on Saturday. “The child has been recovered from the woman who bought him, and an investigation has already commenced into the incident.”
Ukandu explained that the arrest took place on Friday in the Azugwu area of Abakaliki, adding that the case would be thoroughly investigated to ensure justice is served.
Meanwhile, the distraught mother of the baby, Ms. Philomena Iroko, narrated to PulseNets how her fiancé deceived her before selling their child.
“The man, who is supposed to be my husband, took our baby away and told me he was giving the child to his sister to help take care of him,” she told PulseNets. “I didn’t know he had already collected money from that woman in exchange for my son. I’m just grateful that the police acted quickly and that my baby has been found alive and healthy.”
She also expressed deep appreciation to the Nigeria Police Force for their swift intervention, describing the recovery of her baby as a “miracle.”
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PulseNets reported that the Ebonyi State Police Command has assured the public that all those involved in the illegal transaction will face the full wrath of the law once investigations are concluded.
