Ifeoma, who claimed to be a native of Oguta
in Imo State and a popular hairstylist in New Haven, Enugu, according to the
police, allegedly tried to augment her earnings from her legitimate business by
engaging in the “baby for sale” trade which had been thriving in many parts of
the South-East for some time.
Ifeoma who claimed to have five children out
of wedlock, however, denied being involved in child trafficking but she was
found with a baby, which she claimed belonged to her sister in Lagos.
The police said she would be taken to Lagos
to confirm her claim though the operatives doubted her because the baby was too
tender to be cared for by any person other than her mother.
The state Police Public Relations Officer,
PPRO, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, who announced the arrest of Ifeoma and three members
of the syndicate, weekend, said the long arm of the law caught up with them
last Thursday when men of the Anti Human Trafficking squad, acting on a tip
off, swooped on them.
He said: “On September 5, 2013, the long arm
of the law visited Ifeoma as the operatives of the Anti Human Trafficking Unit
of the state Criminal and Investigation Department of the Enugu State police
command, acting on information received that Ifeoma combines the newly
discovered lucrative business of baby factory with the saloon business,
arrested her and someone whom she identified as a would-be husband.
“The alleged fiancé, a patent medicine dealer
and self-acclaimed doctor and the pregnant girl, who was on the verge of
delivery, Ujunwa were apprehended and are now being interrogated.”
He said Ifeoma had taken Ujunwa into custody
to enable her deliver her baby from an unwanted pregnancy with the intention of
taking the baby, adding that they had agreed that Ujunwa would upon delivery be
settled with ₦100,000 to forfeit her baby.
My ordeal, by Ujunwa
Ujunwa, who narrated her ordeal to the
police, said she was impregnated by someone and had wanted to abort the
pregnancy.
Confused about what to do with the pregnancy,
Ujunwa who hails from Ituku in Awgu Local Government Area of the state, went to
a patent medicine dealer identified as Obinna of Obofia Awkunanaw but resides
in New Haven Extension, Enugu, to abort it but was advised to keep the baby.
Before then, she had made attempts to get rid
of the baby to no avail.
“Obinna, however, linked Ujunwa with Ifeoma
who would take care of her pregnancy and later be given ₦100,000 after delivery
to forfeit the baby which Ifeoma will at the appropriate time, sell to couples
desirous of baby,” the police spokesman said.
According to him, Ujunwa further disclosed
that while she was with Ifeoma, “the woman insisted that if her financial
condition dwindles, that the initial agreed amount of ₦100,000 could be reduced
to an amount that she can afford.
“One of the accomplices, a native of Ezeagu,
who was also apprehended, denied being part of the syndicate. But he revealed
that there was a certain time a pregnant girl was brought to him to be
delivered of a baby, which he carried out and later the baby was released to
someone identified as a sister to the girl and that he also issued a receipt
for the hospital expenses incurred.”
On his part, Obike from Isiukwuato, Abia
State, whom Ifeoma described as her fiancé, revealed that he was yet to marry
Ifeoma even though they have five children, whose whereabouts could not be
explained.
Obike, who claimed to be a businessman
dealing on wears, however, declined to give further details about the baby
found in possession of his alleged fiancée.
Amaraizu said that full investigations into
the matter had already commenced with a view to ascertaining further details of
the illicit activities of the syndicate.
Source: Vanguard
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