The suspects
Suspected child traffickers who were
recently nabbed by the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) at the Delta
State police command have said they engage in the business to assist
pregnant girls including married couples who don’t have children.
The suspects, while responding to
questions from Punch Newspaper said, “We sold babies between 1-5 years
of age to those who have been married for several years without
children. Some of us are nurses and supportive members of staff of
health institutions. We do not know how the police got wind of our
illicit businesses while we were operating in Asaba and Onitsha. In most
cases, a child costs N250,000 to N500,000 while grown-up ones are sold
for N1m.”
Investigation revealed that the suspects
took the SARS operatives to Akwa-Ibom State where two children were
rescued and two other persons, suspected to be members of their gang,
were also arrested.
took the SARS operatives to Akwa-Ibom State where two children were
rescued and two other persons, suspected to be members of their gang,
were also arrested.
One of the suspects who claimed to be
Patience Okon said, “Since their mothers cannot take care of their
babies because of lack of money, we normally arrange for wealthy parents
who have no children but in need of children, to come and buy from us
and take them away. We issue receipts of payment to them, we don’t steal
the children as police are alleging but the mothers of these children
in most cases opt for their children to be sold. Some of them don’t even
know the men who impregnate them while some would be hiding from their
parents. So we actually help them to solve their problems”.
Patience Okon said, “Since their mothers cannot take care of their
babies because of lack of money, we normally arrange for wealthy parents
who have no children but in need of children, to come and buy from us
and take them away. We issue receipts of payment to them, we don’t steal
the children as police are alleging but the mothers of these children
in most cases opt for their children to be sold. Some of them don’t even
know the men who impregnate them while some would be hiding from their
parents. So we actually help them to solve their problems”.
Other suspects who spoke in the same
vein said, “We were just helping out some persons who are in need. We
are not human traffickers even though we make money from it. The mothers
of the babies wanted to throw them away so we came to assist these
young girls so that they would not throw away the babies or kill them.
vein said, “We were just helping out some persons who are in need. We
are not human traffickers even though we make money from it. The mothers
of the babies wanted to throw them away so we came to assist these
young girls so that they would not throw away the babies or kill them.