The Ebonyi State Police Command has apprehended a middle-aged man, identified as Chukwuma Onwe, for allegedly selling his five-year-old son for ₦1.5 million to a woman named Mrs Chinyere Ugochukwu.
The shocking incident, which occurred in the Nwezenyi-Igbeagu community of Izzi Local Government Area, has sparked outrage among residents, many of whom described the act as “a disturbing sign of moral decay in society.”
According to the police, both Onwe and the buyer were arrested over the weekend in the Azugwu area of Abakaliki, following credible intelligence. The police also confirmed that the child has been safely recovered and reunited with the authorities.
Speaking to reporters, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Joshua Ukandu, said the command acted swiftly after receiving a tip-off about the suspicious transaction.
“Our officers arrested the suspect, Chukwuma Onwe, along with the buyer, Mrs Chinyere Ugochukwu. Both are currently in police custody and are cooperating with the investigation,” Ukandu said.
He further revealed that Onwe deceitfully took the child from his fiancée, Mrs Philomena Iroko, under false pretences before selling him.
“The suspect threatened the mother of the boy and lied that the child had been taken to his sister for better care,” the police spokesperson explained.
Sources close to the family said Mrs Iroko became suspicious after days without hearing from her supposed sister-in-law and eventually reported the matter to the police.
This led to a coordinated operation that uncovered the illegal sale.
“The man and the buyer will be charged in court once investigations are completed,” Ukandu added.
The Ebonyi State Police Command has since warned residents against engaging in any form of child trafficking or illegal adoption, stressing that offenders will face the full wrath of the law.
A community elder, who spoke anonymously, condemned the incident, saying, “No financial hardship can justify selling one’s child. It’s an abomination that must not be tolerated.”
The recovered child is currently under protective care as police continue their investigation into what they described as a “criminal trade motivated by greed.”