Orphanage owner, 2 others arrested for human trafficking
Three alleged human traffickers have been arrested by the police for trafficking pregnant women and newborn babies.
Police authorities said Friday that the syndicate specialised in buying and selling of new born babies within and outside Nigeria.
44-year-old Emmanuel Chigozie Elesuwa, and Chioma David, 33, were accused of working with 52-year-old Chief Lilian Nma Achumba, who owned Nma Charity Home in Aba, Abia State.
Achumba’s orphanage allegedly served as a decoy for baby factory.
Police say thirty-five pregnant girls/women, six children and a new born baby were rescued at the charity home.
Aremu Adediran, a police spokesperson, said the suspects were intercepted at the Idi-Iroko border post in Ogun on July 20, and were seen in possession two new born babies who they planned to sell.
“The case was handed over to the anti-human trafficking and women/children protection unit of the Force for discrete investigation,” Adediran said.
“Investigation revealed that the suspects are notorious criminals that deal in buying and selling of babies and children within and outside Nigeria.
“They admitted and confessed that they have been in operation for over 10 years. They further confessed that the 2 babies found in their possession were bought at the rate of N350k from Chief Lilian Nma Achumba.”
The suspects, he said, revealed that they were on their way to Benin Republic to sell the babies for N700k each.
