The Special Monitoring Team of the Inspector General of Police in Rivers State, has apprehended a couple allegedly running a child trafficking ring.
The team led by Bennett Igweh, a deputy commissioner of Police (DCP), made the bust on the group headed by one Eucharia Jaja and her husband, Uche Jaja.
Eucharia is said to be an auxiliary nurse while her husband Uche is a tailor, at Afrique Hotel in Oyibo Local Government of Rivers State.
The Police team acting on a tip-off, raided the base of operation of the syndicate and apprehended expectant mothers who presumably wanted to sell their babies upon delivery.
Reports indicates that Thirteen of these women were arrested. Among them is a couple, Richard and Chidinma Benson.
The Bensons had sold their one-day-old baby to the Jajas for N550,000, to enable them pay their N10,500 debt and move from Isiala-ngwa North in Abia State to Umuahia, the state capital.
When questioned on the whereabouts of the day old baby, the Jajas said they didnt the know as it had been sold to a buyer.
They allegedly sold the baby for N750,000 and confessed that it was their fourth trafficking transaction in the last 12 months.
The Police team also arrested a couple, Chika and Rose Onyia, from Enugu State, who connected the Jajas to the buyers.
Mrs. Jaja, from Nkoro in Opobo/Nkoro Local Government of Rivers State disclosed that she learnt the trade from her late employer, who was a traditional midwife.
”I have been in the trade for one year. I was introduced to it by Rose, my former employer. She is now late. I worked for Rose, a herbalist who specialised in treating women and expectant mothers” she said.
Mrs Jaja also confirmed her husband Uche as an accomplice..
“He drives me whenever I am going out for business. He does not see me with the babies because I don’t bring them to the house” she said.
“I have four children. I’ve not sold any of my children.” she added.
Leader of the team DCP Igweh, assured that the police under the command of State Commissioner Zaki Ahmed, would rid the state of child trafficking and related crimes.
He further solicited for more cooperation from the public to help the Force crack down on various crimes.
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