POLICEMEN in Umuahia Abia State have rescued a four-year-old boy, Obinna Ozuoba, from child traffickers. They arrested two suspects, one Rowland Egbe, 30, and a 50-year-old woman, Mrs. Chioma Ohajinmmadu, suspected to be the boy’s would-be buyer.
The boy, who was lured with biscuits, has been reunited with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Uzoma Ozuoba.
According to Abia State Police Commissioner, Mr. Leye Oyebade, who paraded the suspects at the Police Officers Mess, weekend, Rowland Egbe was arrested at Obehie in Ukwa West Council, while taking the abducted boy to the would-be buyer.
Oyebade said on interrogation, the suspect admitted that he abducted the boy. He then led the police to 16, Uchelekwa Street by Ohanku Road, Aba, where Chioma was arrested. The police commissioner, who described child trafficking as a “crime against humanity,” vowed that his men would fight the cartel until they were conquered. He urged persons interested in adopting children to follow legal process.
According to Egbe, he had earlier sold a female child to Chioma through a middle-man, and he was paid N50,000 out of the agreed price of N150,000. However, Chioma wanted a male child, hence his attempt to take Obinna to the middle-man and collect the balance of the agreed price. He said that he knew the boy’s parents and the boy knew him, which was why he easily followed Egbe.
According to the female suspect, Chioma, she approached Egbe through the middle-man, now on the run. She said she has only female children and was desirous of having a male child.
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