Nab 5 others at baby factory
Oyo state Police Commissioner of Police, CP Adebola Hamzat on Saturday said a grandfather, Monday Chuckwuka has been arrested for allegedly selling his one day old granddaughter for N700,000
CP Hamzat who made this known while briefing journalists in his office at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters, Eleyele Ibadan disclosed that the grandfather was arrested by the Police in his hideout in Ibafo area of Ogun state.
Also, the Commissioner of Police said five other suspects comprising of a female suspect identified as Popoola Bunmi and four other accomplices whose names are Chinwedu Peter, Chidinma Blessing, Chuckwu Christopher, and Favour Chukwu have been arrested at a baby factory in Abia state in connection with the matter.
“On 10th July, 2023, an actionable intelligence report was received by a team of Police Operatives attached to the Command Monitoring Oyo State about the ‘’harvesting of a day-old baby girl’’ from her teenage mother identified as Sarah Chukwuka in Oyo town and sale of the girl child to a criminal cartel that operates a baby factory in Abia State”, he said.
The Commissioner of Police added, ” upon intelligence led interview, Monday, who is the biological father of the teenage girl who gave birth to the day-old baby girl confessed to the crime and explained in detail how he took the baby from her mother (his biological daughter) as soon as she gave birth under the pretext of handing over the baby to someone who would take good care of her.”
“The suspect further explained in details, how he moved the day old baby to Abia State where he sold her to the owner of a baby factory located at Obehi, Okwa West in Abia State at the rate of sum of Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (N700,000.00).”
Speaking further, CP Hamzat said “Investigation activity was extended to Abia State and in the process of a coordinated raid on the baby factory, a female suspect identified as Popoola Bunmi and four other accomplices whose names are Chinwedu Peter, Chidinma Blessing, Chuckwu Christopher, and Favour Chukwu were all apprehended in connection with the criminal activity.”
“Bundle of new birth certificates and some equipments being used for baby deliveries were equally recovered from the factory, adding that the suspects as at the time of apprehension were unable to give any satisfactory explanation about the parentage of the babies recovered from the factory.”
Responding to questions from journalists, the grandpa said, “I decided to sell the baby because I cannot afford to take care of my teenage daughter and the baby and I used the money (N700,000) to rent a shop and buy goods.”
Mother of the a day old baby, Mrs. Sarah, on her part said, “I was not aware that my husband wanted to sell the baby, he only told me that he wanted to give the baby to someone to nurture her and return the baby after two years.”
A suspected buyer of the baby, Favor Chukwuka said, “I bought the baby following a request from a couple (name withheld) who are childless, I was given just N50,000 as my own share the job.”
Other suspected criminals paraded by the Command include armed robbers suspects, suspected cultists, some hoodlums that specialized in stealing cars, and notorious criminal receivers among others.
