Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested in Abuja one Chinana Tali at the point of selling his eight year old son, Ushafa Tali for N20 million.
Speaking during the parade of the suspect in Abuja the NSCDC FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu said that the child trafficking suspect was arrested after being lured to Abuja from Benue.
He said the arrest of Chinana who was with his son, followed an intelligence tip-off of his quest to get the highest bidder to sell off Ushafa to.
Odumosu said: “We booked an appointment with the suspect at a garden where we had one of our men pose as a buyer while we had our men surround them.
“He came all the way from Benue to sell his supposed child to a buyer without caring about what might befall the child afterwards.
“To arrest his accomplice, we had to send transport fare to him after he was being deceived that the deal had been settled.”
He said that the father who was initially offered N12 million refused and insisted that the boy who he referred to as a “He-goat” during his conversation on phone be bought at the rate of N20 million.
“He also offered to sell his girl child whom he referred to as a She-goat for N15 million, if he didn’t get a buyer for the boy.
“We are not sure of the paternity yet but more will be uncovered during further investigation as he claimed that the mother, his wife, had no idea of the transaction.”
The Commandant said that the Corps was dedicated to ensure the protection of lives and property and will continue to take drastic measures in ensuring that crimes were nip in the bud.
He however warned persons who may have such evil intentions as that of Tali and his accomplices to desist as child trafficking was a serious offence.
Odumosu said he would be handing over the father, son and one accomplice to representatives of National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Chinana while being interrogated said that he is a father of six children and had decided to sell one of his children to help raise money to take care of his large family.
He said: “It is because of hardship and no money so I needed to find a way to train my other children.”
NAPTIP Senior Intelligence Assistant, Mrs Chinyere Oseafiama, who was on hand to take possession of the father and son and the other suspect assured that the case will be thoroughly investigated for appropriately actions.
“We are happy for what the NSCDC has done and we are assuring that NAPTIP will do the needful and get back to the public with a positive report regarding the case,” Oseafiama said.
The Commandant also said a young man was recently arrested after being caught vandalising armored cables along Idu Railway Line in the territory.
He said that, the suspect had in his possession a hoe used in digging out the cables and a saw which he used in cutting the dug out cables.
“The suspect will be arraigned and prosecuted according to the law to serve as a deterrent to other vandals,” Odumosu said.
Michael Olugbode in Abuja
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