• Arrest corporal, others for armed robbery
The police in Rivers, yesterday, said operatives attached to the Commissioner of Police (CP) Monitoring Unit on Saturday, July 8, at about 5:00p.m., arrested one Charles Michael alongside six others for selling his three children for N1.5 million.
Michael sold his five-year-old child, two-year-old, and a day-old for N700,000, N500,000, and N350,000 respectively. The suspect, in an interview with newsmen, blamed economic hardship for his action, saying he was unable to take care of the children.
He confessed that he sold the children at intervals and used the proceeds to open a salon for his wife with hearing and speaking disabilities. He also confessed to being intercepted by a vigilante group in Omerelu in Ikwerre Council in Rivers State. Michael disclosed that he was handed over to Elele Police Division from where he was transferred to the CP Monitoring unit.
The states Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Grace Iringe-Koko, while parading the seven child-trafficking syndicate, said their arrest was based on the revelation of two suspects who were earlier arrested.
Iringe-Koko noted that an extended investigation into Omudiaga community in Emohua Local Council of Rivers State and Ogbaku community in Mbaitoli Local Council of Imo State led to the arrest of the duo of Ndubuisi Egbueri at Omudiaga and Ndubuisi Wosa and Chioma Anele at Ogbaku.
She also noted that they confessed to receiving one of the babies, which they later handed over to a former councillor in Emohua Local Council identified as Regina Aki at Rukpokwu in Obio/ Akpor council of the state.
Iringe-Koko further stated that Aki was also arrested and she admitted to contacting one Favour Amaewhule at Aluu, in Ikwerre LGA where the day-old baby was sold in the presence of Michael Charles, the father of the baby.
She further explained that Favour Amaewhule was arrested and admitted to buying the baby for the sum of N700,000.00, while N350,000.00 was paid to Michael Charles, the father of the baby, and N350,000.00 was paid to Regina Aki and partners.
However, Iringe-Koko noted that both the two-year-old and the baby bought by Amaewhule have been recovered, adding that investigation was in top gear to recover the five-year-old.
Meanwhile, the mother-in-law of Michael explained to newsmen that before the arrest, the suspect had been lying to her that her grandchildren, especially the last child, died after birth. She said the suspect was taking advantage of her daughter’s disabilities to perpetrate the act of selling the children.
MEANWHILE, operatives of the Rivers State Police Command have arrested a police corporal identified as Bright Oke for alleged armed robbery and car snatching. Iringe-Koko said the officer with three of his accomplice went to snatch a Toyota Corolla at the Gateway axis of Ada George in Obio Akpor Local Council of the state when they were intercepted by men of the C41 intelligence unit.
She said exhibits such as single-barrel guns, were recovered from the officer who has now been dismissed. Bright, who explained his involvement in the crime, said the four-man gang went to rob at Omoku in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Councils of the state but had to first snatch a car at Ada George.
He explained that after successfully snatching the vehicle, while driving out they ran into a patrol van of the C4i unit who gave them a hot chase. He said due to the pressure from the chase, they had an accident while trying to escape and were intercepted by the police and later transferred to the CP monitoring unit. He said he was unaware of his dismissal and pleaded with the commission for a second chance.
