Police Arrest Suspected Child Traffic Specialist in Anambra

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Monday, August 22nd, 2016

– Sells Each Child N50,000 Hospitals

By Ignatius Okpara

ANAMBRA, NIGERIA (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Security operatives in Anambra State south- east Nigeria have nabbed a 32-year-old woman, identified as Chidinmma Favour Okorie, who specializes in kidnapping children and selling each at N50, 000 to doctors and child traffickers.

Okorie, who is pregnant and mother of five was reportedly apprehended in the act following an alarm raised by the mother of a child she was about to steal last weekend at Udoma village, Umuoji in Idemili North Council Area of Anambra state.

The suspect, who is equally said to be part of a syndicate gang that has allegedly stolen several babies in the state, confessed to the police that she had been in the illegal business for quite some time until luck ran out of her weekend.

Parading the suspect before newsmen in Awka, the Anambra state capital, the State Police Commissioner, Mr. Sam Okaula, said she was arrested by police detectives as she was perfecting plans to escape from the town with a three-year-old boy earlier stolen from a compound in the village.

Asked how she carries out her illicit operation, the suspect, told newsmen that she regularly comes from Ebonyi to Anambra State to perpetrate the evil act.

According to her, after stealing babies, she would sell the child for N50, 000 to a child-trafficking syndicate that works with hospitals in Onitsha.

The suspect, a native of Amasiri, Afikpo, local government Area of Ebonyi state, said: “Usually, I come from Ebonyi State to Anambra State to steal children and sell each one for N50, 000 to a syndicate at a hospital (name withheld) in Onitsha.

“Luck ran out on me when I went to Udoma village in Umuoji community and I met a woman who was with her little child, and pretended that I was looking for somebody.

“The mother of the boy told her son to take me to the place and from there I took him away.

“I did the same thing in another street, where I wanted to take another three-year old before the mother of the victim alerted the community after which the police and the two stolen three-year old boys were rescued”.

“I am married and have five children; we live at Amasiri, Afikpo Ebonyi State. I am a trader but it was greed that made me go into child trafficking” she confessed.

“I started on July 15, 2016, when I sold the son of a pastor (name withheld) to the staff of a hospital that is part of the syndicate.

“The doctor that owns the hospital paid me N50, 000. Immediately I got my money I went back to Ebonyi State, adding that a certain unnamed doctor who runs a hospital in Asaba, Delta State, administered a deadly oath on her never to disclose the truth when arrested.

Mother of the latest victim, who gave her name as Nneka Victor, while narrating how the woman stole her child, said: “The suspect came to my compound and asked for somebody, as I knew the person she was asking about, I told my three-year son, Victor, to take her to the place.

“When he did not immediately return, I rushed out to look for him, I didn’t know that she did the same to another woman and took her three-year-old son, it was when she wanted to escape with the two boys that we alerted the community and policemen at Osidi Police Station,”

It was however, gathered that the doctor denied the allegation when he was reportedly interrogated.

Hear him: “I don’t know the woman; I didn’t know that she was dealing with one of my staff with regard to child trafficking. I only saw her once when she came for blood sample.

“I didn’t have any deal with her. I was surprised to see policemen who came and arrested me over child trafficking”.

Meanwhile, the State Police Command said it has commenced full investigation into the matter.