By Praise Chinecherem
Luck ran out on a couple trafficking one month old Baby from Lagos at Bridgehead in Onitsha, Anambra State when they were rounded up by police operatives.
The Police spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga who disclosed this in a statement said the interception was made on December 17, 2023.
He said the suspects who have been handed over to National Agency for Prohibition in Trafficking of Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution, confessed buying the child from its mother in Ajah, Lagos for the sum of N30,000.
He added that the baby has been handed to the Ministry of Women Affairs for care by the State Government.
He said, “The Police in Anambra State have arrested a couple trafficking one month old Baby from Lagos. The interception was made at Bridgehead in Onitsha on 17th December, 2023.
“The couple were travelling in a Luxury bus belonging to a popular transport company with the baby when a co-passenger observed that the mother could not breastfeed the baby despite its cry for food in the course of the journey.
“The good samaritan put a call through to Anambra Police on its Control Room hotline in Awka which then relayed the information to the Police at Bridgehead in Onitsha.
“The Police laid in wait for the luxury bus described and intercepted it in the evening hours. The couple and the Baby were identified and brought down for questioning.
“They confessed buying the child from its mother in Ajah, Lagos for the sum of N30,000.”
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Aderemi Adeoye who thanked the public spirited citizen for his humane concern in giving the information that led to the rescue of the child, commended Police Operatives for their vigilance and dedication to duty.
“He has directed that the couple be handed to National Agency for Prohibition in Trafficking of Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.
“Meanwhile the Baby has been handed to the Ministry of Women Affairs for care by the State Government.”
