A 20-year-old lady, Ola China, indigene of Amangwu Edda in Afikpo North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, conspired with her lover boy, Jonah Ogbuagu, a bricklayer, to sell their baby to a maternity home at the cost of N500,000; and thereafter, were nabbed by the police in Ebonyi State.
Jonah Ogbuagu, a bricklayer, had impregnated Ola China out of wedlock in August 2021. Ola had given birth to the baby in April 2022 at her aunt’s residence in Obigbo, Rivers State, where she went in search of help during the pregnancy period.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Ebonyi State Command, SP Chris Anyanwu, disclosed in Abakaliki on Tuesday that the maternity home owner, popularly known as “Mummy Abigail’’ was arrested at Ovima, also in Afikpo North Local Government Area.
According to the PPRO: “Mummy Abigail runs a maternity home which she uses as a cover for her illicit trade.
“The suspects have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for necessary actions and prosecution.’’
SP Anyanwu further disclosed that the Ebonyi State Police Command also arrested a two-man child trafficking syndicate who specialise in stealing, abducting, kidnapping and selling children.
Anyawu identified members of the syndicate as Otuu Chizaram, 24, from Ndukwe Akpoha and Agbi Precious, 20, of Evuma Road both in Afikpo North Local Government Area, Ebonyi State.
He said that each of them confessed to the crime of stealing a baby.