Police arrest man for selling his five-day-old baby for ₦1.5 million in…

The Ebonyi Police Command has arrested a middle-aged man, Chukwuma Onwe, for allegedly selling his 5-day-old son for 1.5 million naira.

Onwe, who hails from Nwezenyi-Igbeagu community in Izzi Local Government Area of ​​the state, was arrested when his future wife, Philomena Iroko, alerted her neighbour, who informed the police of her husband’s action.

The child was said to have been sold to one Chinyere Ugochukwu, a woman, who was also captured by the police.

SP Joshua Ukandu, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), told journalists in Abakaliki on Saturday, that the child had been recovered from the alleged buyer.

Ukandu said the father of the child was arrested along with the alleged buyer on Friday at Azugwu area of ​​Abakaliki Local Government Area of ​​the state.

“Yes, he, Onwe, has been arrested and is currently in our custody. We will begin an investigation into the matter,” the PPRO said.

Iroko, the mother of the child, said her proposed husband took her son away from Ugochukwu (the alleged buyer) without her knowledge.

Man arrested for selling five-day-old son for N1.5 million

“The man, who is yet to be my husband, took the baby and lied to me that he had given him to his sister for further care.

“I didn’t 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 recovered and is in good health. I congratulate the Nigeria Police Force,” he added.

Iroko, however, appealed to the general public for help in taking care of the child: “My child’s father told me that he would marry me, but little did I know that he was deceiving me all along. Look at me, where will I run? No husband and no one to take care of my child. I call on the state government and individuals to come to my aid,” she said.

Similarly, several reports on January 29, 2025 revealed that operatives of the Akwa Ibom State Police Command arrested a lady, Christiana Ibanga, and her boyfriend, Inyene Akpan, on charges of trafficking her child and selling the newborn for ₦450,000.

Parading the suspects along with 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.

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