A 48-year-old man, Anthony Igbinogun, and his girlfriend, Joy Umukoro, have been arrested on suspicion of selling their newborn baby to buy drugs.
The baby daddy and his 28-year-old partner were detained by the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking (ETAHT), along with James Precious, a friend who had connections to the buyer in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Abigail Ihonre, the ETAHT’s Head of Investigation Unit, informed pressmen in Benin City that the baby was sold for N1.7 million.
Ihonre claims that although the baby’s mother admitted to the crime and the infant has not yet been found.
She said that Joy gave birth in April 2023, but Joy later claimed that the couple sold the son because they could not care for him.
Ihonre further alleged that the couple are drug addicts and they risk being sent to jail for seven years.
“Investigation into the case continues as we intensify efforts to locate the baby and the buyers as 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 for their criminal activities.
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,” she said.
