Abia police rescue baby allegedly sold for N250,000 by teenage mum

www.odogwublog.com reports that the Abia State Police Command has rescued a two- month old baby boy sold for N250,000 by his teenage mum to a Rivers State- based baby trafficker.

Commissioner of Police,  Mr. Leye Oyebade, who handed over the baby to the  mother yesterday in Umuahia also paraded the prime suspect, one Esther Arukwe who allegedly specialises in buy babies from their teenage mothers.

The CP said police on May 12, got a tip off that some teenagers  - Ezinne Obiah, 17; and Abigail Udofia, 18 from Obingwa and Bende respectively, were arrested for selling their babies to child traffickers.

He said both suspects were arrested and upon interrogation, confessed that they sold it to the prime suspect, Arukwe who lived in Port Harcourt.

Leye said one of the babies was recovered on May 19 by detectives from the state's Anti-kidnapping squad.

Later in an interview the mother of the rescued baby said she went to Port Harcourt to attend a birthday party when the police stormed the venue in search of stolen babies.

She denied selling her baby saying she was there at the invitation of her husband's sister who s having a birthday party, but police controverted her claims, insisting she came to sell her baby.

But contrary to her claims the other suspect, Abigail admitted that she sold her baby for N250,000 to Madam Arukwe after habouring her during the pregnancy period.

The SS 2 student of Government Technical School Aba said she became pregnant out of wedlock and was introduced to Arukwe who promised to cater for her until she put to bed before  buying the baby boy.

According to her the man who impregnated her denied responsibility hence her decision to sell the baby on the advice of friends.

Police said Arukwe after buying the baby for N250,000 later sold her for N800,000 to other buyers now on the run.

But Arukwe who was inconsistent in her claims finally admitted buying only one child which she said she later sold to a buyer in Port Harcourt.

Police also paraded 11 year-old boy who was a ring leader of burglars in Aba.

The suspect from Abakaliki in Ebonyi State said he was out of school.