The Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested a middle-aged man, Chukwuma Onwe, for allegedly selling his five-day-old biological son for ₦1.5 million. The shocking incident has sparked outrage across the state, drawing strong condemnation from residents and rights groups who described it as “unthinkable and inhumane.”
According to preliminary reports, Onwe, a native of Ezza South Local Government Area, was taken into custody after police operatives received a tip-off linking him to an illegal child trafficking network operating within the state. Investigations revealed that he had allegedly conspired with some individuals to sell the newborn shortly after his wife gave birth.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ebonyi, DSP Loveth Odah, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued on Sunday in Abakaliki. She disclosed that the suspect confessed to the crime during interrogation, claiming he was pressured by financial hardship.
“The command acted swiftly on credible intelligence and successfully apprehended the suspect. He is currently in custody, assisting with ongoing investigations. Efforts are underway to track down other accomplices and recover the infant,” Odah stated.
Preliminary findings suggest that the baby was sold to a buyer outside the state, and the police have since launched a manhunt to recover the child and dismantle the trafficking ring.
Residents of the community expressed shock over the incident, describing Onwe as a previously quiet man. Community leaders have called for stricter enforcement of child protection laws and greater public awareness about the dangers of human trafficking.
Human rights advocates, including representatives from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), have also waded into the matter, urging security agencies to ensure the perpetrators face full prosecution.
The Ebonyi State Commissioner of Police, CP Augustina Ogbodo, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating all forms of child trafficking and illegal adoption schemes.
“This incident is deeply disturbing. No justification can ever warrant the sale of a human being, let alone a child. The command will ensure justice is served, and the baby is safely recovered,” she said.
The suspect remains in custody as the investigation continues.