By Musa Kutama, Calabar
Police in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state, has detained a middle-aged man, Chukwuma Onwe, for allegedly selling his 5-day-old son for N1.5 million.
Onwe, a native of Nwezenyi-Igbeagu Community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state, was apprehended when his wife, Philomena Iroko, alerted her neighbour, who informed the police of the husband’s action.
The baby boy was said to have been sold to one Chinyere Ugochukwu, a female, who has also been nabbed by the police.
SP Joshua Ukandu, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, told journalists on Saturday in Abakaliki, that the baby had been recovered from the alleged buyer.
Ukandu said that the father of the child was arrested alongside 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 are going to commence investigation into the matter,” the PPRO said.
Iroko, the baby’s mother said that her proposed husband took away her son to Ugochukwu (the alleged buyer) without her knowledge.
“The man, who is yet to be my husband, took the child and lied to me that he gave the baby to his sister for further care.
“I did not know that the woman he gave my son to, had already paid him in exchange for my 5-day-old baby,” she said. “Thank God, my son has been recovered and he is healthy. I commend the Nigeria Police Force,” she added.
Iroko, however pleaded to the general public for help to enable her take care of the baby.
“The father of my son told me that he will marry me but I didn’t know that he was deceiving me all the while. Look at me, where will I run to. No husband and no one to take care of my baby. I am begging the state government and individuals to come to my assistance,” she pleaded.
