A 48-year old man, identified as Anthony Igbinogun, and his lover, Joy Umukoro (28), has been arrested for allegedly selling their one-month-old baby to buy drugs.
The suspects the with their friend, James Precious, who linked them with the baby’s buyer in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, were arrested by the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking.
The Head of the Investigation Unit of the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, Abigail Ihonre, at a press conference in Benin City, told journalists that the suspects sold the baby for N1.7 million.
She disclosed that the baby’s mother had confessed to the crime, saying: “Our investigations revealed that Joy Umukoro, delivered the baby in April 2023, and conspired with her boyfriend to sell their baby for N1.7 million.
“The suspects said they carried out the dastardly act because they couldn’t take care of the baby. These people are alleged drug addicts, and when it was clear that they couldn’t take care of the baby, they decided to sell him. But that wasn’t the best option for them, as the decision could destroy their lives. The penalty for trafficking is about seven years in prison.”
Ihonre explained that investigation into the case continues to locate the baby and the buyers, adding that the matter will be charged to court on Monday, June 26, 2023, “so that everyone culpable is made to face the wrath of the law.”