The police in Lagos State have launched a
manhunt for a woman, Amaka Ogua, for allegedly selling the unborn child
of her younger sister, Nkechi, for N100,000 in the Mile 2 area of the
state.
It was gathered that Amaka, who the
police accused of running a baby factory, had already collected N50,000
from a client for the unborn child.
it was learnt that a balance of N50,000 was agreed to be paid when 31-year-old Nkechi was delivered of the baby.
Our correspondent gathered that the
bubble burst on Friday, June 24, when the police got a tip-off from a
non-governmental organisation – Child Protection Network – that money
had been allegedly paid to Nkechi’s sister for the unborn child.
Our correspondent learnt that the matter
was reported at the FESTAC Police Division, which sent officers to
rescue Nkechi from the apartment on the same day.
A CPN member, Toyin Oklagogo, who was also at the police station, told Metro that Nkechi was impregnated by a man brought home by her sister.
He said, “The woman was registered at a
private hospital in the Alaba area of Ojo. But she stayed in a flat
around 2nd Rainbow, Mile 2. When the information got to the CPN that she
had become pregnant and her unborn child had been sold, we went to the
house with another executive, but Nkechi refused to follow us. We then
reported the case at the police station.
“The Divisional Police Officer at the
FESTAC Police Division asked his men to rescue Nkechi the Friday we
reported at the station. We did not meet her sister at home when we went
to her house at the Ojo Military Cantonment. She would have been
arrested immediately.
“Nkechi had a mental challenge some
years back. She said at the police station that although she had memory
loss, she could remember that her sister brought a man to impregnate her
in the house. She added that she was not in support of the sale of her
baby, but her sister had collected money from a man.
“Nkechi also told us that she gave birth
to a baby two years ago, but her sister had taken the child to an
unknown person. So, the police are investigating child trafficking as
well.”
A police source told our correspondent that when Amaka’s husband was invited to the station, he declined the invitation.
The source added that the husband claimed it was a family issue and that the police should steer clear of it.
The source said, “Nkechi is carrying an
eight-month -old pregnancy. So, she is receiving care and we believe her
safety is a top priority. The police invited the husband of the
suspect, but he declined, saying the police were meddling in a family
affair. But the victim already confessed that money had been collected
for her unborn child.”
Our correspondent gathered that the
matter had also been reported at the Lagos State Ministry of Women
Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Ikeja, which took custody of Nkechi.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations
Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the incident, adding that the
pregnant woman had been rescued.
She said, “The sister of the pregnant
woman wanted to take advantage of her sibling’s mental condition to sell
her baby when born. Investigations revealed that an amount of money had
been collected for the purpose.
“Operatives from the FESTAC division are
still investigating the matter. Meanwhile, the command has rescued the
pregnant woman and she is in safe custody.
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