Man arrested in Rivers for selling his 3 children
The suspect Michael Charles speaking to journalists as police paraded him alongside other suspects in Port Harcourt on Friday
Michael Charles, alias Thankgod Ekwueme, has been arrested by police in River State for allegedly selling his three children.
This is in response to the State Command's dismantling of a child trafficking organisation.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, paraded the suspects within the Old GRA Police Station, Head Office of the CP Monitoring Unit, who were responsible for the breakthrough, and stated that they had arrested a number of suspects involved in the trade of minors within the state.
Charles, one of the paraded suspects and the father of the trafficked children, acknowledged selling them, citing poverty and his inability to provide for them as justification.
A physician and a former councilmember are also implicated in the scheme.
Speaking on behalf of the deaf and mute mother of the traded children, Janet Igwe's mother from Umudiogo, Emohua Local Government Area of the state, stated that her son-in-law has been selling her daughter's children while telling her that they perished at birth.
The statement by the police said, “Operatives attached to the CP Monitoring Unit on Saturday, July 8, 2023, at about 5.00 p.m., based on the revelation of two suspects earlier arrested in a case of child trafficking, extended the investigation to Omudiaga in Emohua LGA of Rivers State and Ogbaku in Mbaitoli LGA of Imo State, where they arrested the duo of Ndubuisi Egbueri ‘M, and Ndubuisi Wosa ‘M at Omudiaga, and one Chioma Anele ‘F at Ogbaku.
Both Ndubuisi Egbueri and Ndubuisi Wosa confessed to receiving one of the babies, which they later handed over to Hon. Regina Aki ‘F at Rukpokwu in Port Harcourt. Hon. Regina Aki was also arrested and admitted to contacting one Favour Amaewhule ‘F at Aluu, where the baby was sold in the presence of Michael Charles, the father of the baby.
“Subsequently, Favour Amaewhule ‘F 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 Hon. Regina Aki and partners.
“However, the baby bought by Favour Amaewhule has been recovered, and the investigation is in top gear with a view to recovering the other babies received by Chioma Anele ‘F.’ Seven (7) suspects are currently in custody.”
Source: National Accord Newspaper
