The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a man identified as Michael Charles for selling his three children in Omerelu community, Ikwerre Local Government Area.
The Command’s spokesperson, Grace Iringe Koko, said the suspect sold a 5-year-old for N700,000, a 3-year-old for N350,000, and a day-old baby for N500,000.
SP Iringe Koko told a news conference that the suspect was caught by the vigilante group, Onelga Security Peace and Advisory Committee (OSPAC) after selling his newborn.
She said Charles, whose wife can neither hear nor speak, worked with six others to sell his children.
Two of the suspected collaborators, Ndubusis Egbueri and Ndubuisi Nwosu, confessed to receiving one of the babies which they later handed over to Honourable Regina Aka at Rukpowu in Port Harcourt.
Honourable Aka has been arrested and admitted to contacting Favour Amehule, a woman at Aluu community, where the baby was sold.
Amehule has also been arrested and admitted to paying N700,000 for the baby.
The main suspect admitted to selling his children out of poverty.
“I don’t have money or any property, if you see me, you will know that I am poor,” he said.
“I was paid N700,000 for selling Uchechi and for Miracle, I was paid N350,000 and my day-old baby for N500,000. I gave the day-old baby to the doctor who helped me in making the transaction,” Charles confessed.
His mother-in-law, Janeth Igwe, explained how the suspect, Michael Charles, takes advantage of his wife’s inability to hear or speak to do evil.
“He always tells me that my grandchild is dead, both the first and the second. This time I asked my daughter to show me where the child was buried, and she responded using some sign language,” she said.
“I held my daughter’s husband and asked him where my grandchildren were. Because my daughter cannot hear or speak; that is why he has been treating her badly and this drew the attention of Omerulu people. I had to alert OSPAC and took him to Elele Police Station,” she said.
Another suspect, Nelson Bernard, admitted to being a middle-man for the trade in humans.
“The woman received the baby and gave us money and I paid Michael N500,000. The money was N1.5 million,” he said.
“Me, Michael, and his wife then came back to the house. So, suddenly on Tuesday, I saw Michael with policemen, they came to my clinic, and the N1 million that was given was still in my custody.
“The N1 million was given as compensation for the business and the agreement I had with Michael.”