| The suspects |
By Chiemelie Ezeobi
For Chibueze Mba and his 23-year-old wife, Adaeze, the saying 'Blood is thicker than water' truly held little or no meaning to them. The couple who had been fingered in about three high profile child trafficking cases had also sold off their unborn foetus at N200, 000, who baring all unforeseen circumstances would be born in three months time.
But for the couple, selling off their blood was no rocket science as Mba confessed that it was not his first attempt. Infact, selling his son two years ago was the beginning of his foray into child trafficking.
The couple alongside two other suspects; Benedicta Ogbuonwu (the receiver and seller) and Patricia Anibogu (adoptive mother), were arrested by men of the Ilembe Police Division led by the Divisional Police Officer, SP Ekepeghere Ibe.
The couple had successfully abducted three children; two boys and a girl whom they sold for N400,000 and N300,000 respectively, before they were nabbed.
While 4-year-old Stanely Eziaka was abducted two months ago and was adopted to Anibogu who was childless after 28years of marriage, Promise and Goodluck Amaechi were abducted since last year and had been placed in illegal foster homes before they were adopted.
Although the Amaechi's are cousins, THISDAY however gathered that Promise was only three months when she was abducted. She is now a year and two months old, meaning she spent nine months with her surrogate parents.
The well-oiled syndicate operated thus; the couple would kidnap the kids and then pass it on to the middleman; Benedicta at the agreed rate who will then sell to one of the orphanages in Onitsha or to individuals at N600,000.
Regaling THISDAY with his two-year successful stint in child trafficking, Mba said his journey began with his first girlfriend, Ojiugo. According to him, they were dating happily till she got pregnant.
He said, "When she got pregnant, I truly wanted to marry her but her father protested vehemently against our union. It was so bad that we fled to Rivers State.
"When I complained about my inability to take care of my pregnant girlfriend and myself, one of my friends Dozie came up with the idea of selling off the child when it was born. At first, I did not agree until Ojiugo pressured me.
"It was then he hooked me up with Benedicta and we discussed and agreed on the sum of N100, 000. She also told me to be on the lookout for women like Ojiugo or those stranded who could not take care of their baby. She promised to reward me handsomely."
He continued, "First, she paid me N30,000 and then took in Ojiugo and took care of her till she delivered. Unfortunately, Ojiugo took the balance of our payment and disappeared. I was hooked.
"I officially began in September last year and it was the same time I married my wife. So far, we had succeeded in abducting and selling three children at the sum of N400,000 for boys and N300, 000 for the girl."
Corroborating his story, 23-year-old wife said she was the one that lured Eziaka after she had gone to the shop to buy some food.
She disclosed that they were forced to relocate to Awka Ibom after they had abducted Eziaka. With the money realised from the shady business, she said the husband went into carpentry (furniture making) while she invested her share into trading of foodstuffs.
On why they had sold her yet unborn foetus, she claimed she wouldn't have allowed him. But when asked what would happen to the money already paid to them, she wore a confused look.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Ngozi Braide, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the suspects were serial child traffickers who abduct children from their parents and sell to the highest bidder.
She said, "On March 14, a case of missing person was reported at Ilembe Police Division under the command of SP Ekepeghere Ibe by Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Eziaka. The division commenced investigation
"When writing their statements, the parents had disclosed that their 4-year-old son had last been seen in company of their neighbour, Chibueze and Ada but attempts to call their numbers proved abortive as it was switched off.
"Investigations continued and the couple were traced to Akwa Ibom where they were arrested. They confessed that they had sold the child to Benedicta at N400,000.
"When they disclosed the whereabouts of Benedicta, police moved to Onitsha and picked her up. During interrogation, she confessed that she resold Eziaka at N600,000 to Patricia Anibogu."
She further disclosed that the kingpin, Chibueze had also told the police that before they kidnap a child, they would move into the environment, study it and then make their move.
Braide added that the police were on the lookout for the other members of the syndicate whom the duo of the Amaechi cousins were sold to. The two women were said to have been tipped off and they fled leaving the two kids behind.
She advised parents especially mothers to be watchful and be security conscious when it comes to their kids. "Don't leave your kids with strangers as was the case of the Eziaka's.
"As for women who do not follow due process in pursuing an adoption, I would advise them to deviate from their act. If you go to the appropriate place, you will get it done legally and avoid all these hassles."
For Anibogu, she said she was pushed into the nefarious act because of loneliness and frustration. According to her, she had been married for 28 years with no child and had condescended to adopting illegally because she was lonely for companionship after the death of her husband.
She said, "When I became so lonely, someone gave me Benedicta's number and I decided to give it a trial and those two months with Stanley was heaven to me. For the first time, I had someone to call me mummy."
On why she veered into selling children, Benedicta told THISDAY said she only took the children from the couple because they told her they get them from prostitutes.
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