Photo: The suspect being paraded by the police
Father allegedly sells his 3 children for N1.5m in Rivers
The police command in Rivers State has arrested a man identified as Charles Michael for allegedly selling his three children for N1.5 million.
The suspect who was arrested alongside six other alleged accomplices by operatives attached to the Commissioner of Police (CP) Monitoring Unit allegedly sold his five-year-old child, two-year-old, and a day-old for N700,000, N500,000, and N350,000, respectively.
He, in an interview with newsmen, blamed economic hardship for his action, saying he was unable to take care of the children.
Michael confessed that he sold the children at intervals and used the proceeds to open a salon for his wife with hearing and speaking disabilities.
He also confessed to being intercepted by a vigilante group in Omerelu in Ikwerre Council in Rivers State, adding that he was handed over to Elele Police Division from where he was transferred to the CP Monitoring unit.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), while parading the seven child-trafficking syndicate, said their arrest was based on the revelation of two suspects who were earlier arrested.
She noted that an extended investigation into Omudiaga community in Emohua Local Council of Rivers State and Ogbaku community in Mbaitoli Local Council of Imo State led to the arrest of the duo of Ndubuisi Egbueri at Omudiaga and Ndubuisi Wosa and Chioma Anele at Ogbaku.
According to her, the suspects confessed to receiving one of the babies, which they later handed over to a former councillor in Emohua Local Council identified as Regina Aki at Rukpokwu in Obio/ Akpor council of the state.
Iringe-Koko further stated that Aki was also arrested and she admitted to contacting one Favour Amaewhule at Aluu, in Ikwerre LGA where the day-old baby was sold in the presence of Michael Charles, the father of the baby.
She further explained that Favour Amaewhule was arrested and admitted to buying the baby for the sum of N700,000.00, while N350,000.00 was paid to Michael Charles, the father of the baby, and N350,000.00 was paid to Regina Aki and partners.
However, Iringe-Koko noted that both the two-year-old and the baby bought by Amaewhule have been recovered, adding that investigation was in top gear to recover the five-year-old.
Meanwhile, the mother-in-law of Michael explained to newsmen that before the arrest, the suspect had been lying to her that her grandchildren, especially the last child, died after birth.
She said the suspect took advantage of her daughter’s disabilities to perpetrate the act of selling the children.
