The manifesto Akwa Ibom police arrest mother for selling her three-day-old baby for £953

The manifesto Akwa Ibom police arrest mother for selling her three-day-old baby for £953

Posted by Sylvester on Tuesday, March 11, 2014 0

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POLICE in Akwa Ibom State have arrested the mother of a three-day old baby for attempting to sell her daughter to a desperate couple for N260,000 (£953) as part of the ongoing clampdown on child trafficking.

 In a desperate bid to cash in on the birth of her daughter, Imaobong Udoh of Uyo sold her daughter to Regina James and Mfon James. However, the father of the baby reported the sale to the police and the trio were arrested, along with the traditional birth attendant who delivered the baby Comfort Henry and Emmanuel Okon, a homeopathic doctor, who arranged the sale.

Umar Gwadabe, the Akwa Ibom State commissioner of police, said: “On March 3, 2014, a case of child stealing was reported by Mr Eteobong James, of 33, Urua Ekpa Road, Itu Local Government Area, to the police, where a three-day-old baby girl was sold for N260,000.  Based on the report, the suspects were arrested.

“Mr Emmanuel Etim Okon, was the one that arranged the infamous deal and personally conveyed the baby from the point of delivery at Nna-Enin in Uruan Local Government Area to the buyers at 37 Church Road, Uyo. Regina paid N150,000 to the mother of the baby and N110,000 to Okon, the homeopathic doctor, for his services."

He added that the accused persons would soon be arraigned in court and warned child thieves to steer clear of the state. Of late, Akwa Ibom has been one of the states in Nigeria where child trafficiking has been rampant.

Mr Mfon James, the husband of the buyer, pleaded his innocence, however, saying that when his wife told him she was pregnant, he gave her money for ante-natal care but was surprised to hear that she bought a baby. He added: “I am a trader and when my wife, Regina, told me she was pregnant, I gave her money for ante-natal.

"One day, she told me she was in labour and later informed me that she had been delivered of a baby girl. I did not know she bought the baby since she has given birth to four children, although three died.”

Mr Okon, the homeopathic doctor said Regina brought the mother of the baby, Imaobong, to him so that he could take care of her during the ante-natal phase. he added that Regina had explained to him that the father of the baby was not financially buoyant to take care of her and denied collecting N110,000 from Regina, stating that he only collected N30,000, which was the cost of delivery.