Olaleye Aluko
"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.
PUNCH Metro 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 PUNCH 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.”
Culled from PUNCH.
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