By Ngozi Uwujare
• Police arrests three other merchants in Owerri
A student of the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, one Vivian Iwuji who gave birth to a baby boy on August 2, 2014 has with the assistance of her boyfriend, one Obinna Ugochukwu sold the baby for the sum of N620,000. However, luck ran out on them as the buyer, one Ehegalara Edwin was arrested by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Imo State Police Command, Owerri and the baby rescued.Vivian’s father, Mr Patrick Iwuji told the police that him and his wife were aware that their daughter, Vivian was pregnant. “She told us that she was going to the hospital to deliver and when we visited her, we asked her about the baby. She told us that the baby was dead.“I didn’t believe her and there was no trace that my daughter’s baby was dead. I had to report to the police. Later the case was transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit for investigation. “It was there that my own daughter with her boyfriend confessed that they sold the baby boy in the sum of N620,000 to one Ehegalara Edwin.”
It was a tear of joy on August 11, 2014 at the Police Headquarters, Owerri when the Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdulmajid Ali handed over the baby to Mr. Iwuji.
In a related development, the Imo State Police Command through its Anti-Human Trafficking Unit has successfully rescued and returned another baby abducted from his mother few hours after he was born.
Speaking with Sunday Sun the Imo State Commissioner of Police, Ali said that the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the command was able to rescue the baby after a tip-off by a commercial tricycle rider who suspected the shady behaviour of the suspects when they boarded a tricycle on July 30, 2014.
The tricycle rider was said to have informed the police that three armed men came in with a tricycle, shot into the air and snatched a two week old baby boy.
CP Ali said that they handed over the baby boy to three persons, one man and two women who came from Nasarawa State.
He said they picked tricycle from Orija and from there took the Young Shall Grow bus going to Lagos State. The suspects were in the bus when they were arrested by the Anti-Human Trafficking Section and the baby was rescued.
He said they have made confessional statements at the Iho Police Division.
CP Ali further said that the victim was able to identify her baby saying the police later found out that the baby belongs to Mr. and Mrs Obi.
Ali later handed over the baby boy to Mr and Mrs Obi.
Ali pledged to rid the state of child trafficking.
He said the three suspects have been arrested in connection with the matter and appealed to religious and community leaders to always give police useful information if any woman or family member without prior notice of pregnancy is seen with a new baby.
The family of Mr. and Mrs. Obi thanked CP Ali and the Anti –Human Trafficking Unit for assisting them to recover their stolen baby from the criminals.
