38-year-old herbalist arrested for N650,000 sale of newborn baby
A 38-year-old herbalist, Chigozie John Emmanuel, A.K.A ‘Akuchi’, has been arrested by The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons for selling a newborn baby.
A statement from the Head, Press and Public Relations of NAPTIP, Mr Josiah Emerole, in Abuja confirmed that Emmanuel, who hailed from Enugu State, owned Akuchi Herbal Concept at New Nyanya, Abuja, was arrested after weeks of surveillance by officers of the agency and those of the Department of State Services.
According to Emerole, the suspected trafficker sold a newborn baby to a woman whom he promised to make pregnant through spiritual means; based on their suspicion, they detained and questioned the woman on the identity of the baby she carried. She admitted to being a patient of Emmanuel, whom she said administered some herbs on her after years of infertility.
Emerole disclosed that the woman confessed to having paid the suspected trafficker N650,000 for the baby after Emmanuel told her he had made her pregnant and cautioned her not to go to the hospital for any medical treatment or antenatal care.
He said that based on the victim’s narration, when it was time for her ‘delivery’, Emmanuel directed her to Port-Harcourt where a baby was handed over to her.
The spokesperson reported the Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli, commended the officers for their painstaking surveillance which culminated in the arrest.
“She further warned the public, especially women, to stop patronising such ‘herbalists’, as the sale of babies is a crime punishable by law.
