Woman Arrested in Imo for Attempting to Sell Five-Year-Old Boy for N30,000

The Imo State Police Command has arrested a 40-year-old woman, Onyinyechi Emeka, for allegedly attempting to sell a five-year-old boy for N30,000.

According to a statement released on Monday by Henry Okoye, the command’s spokesperson, police operatives intercepted Emeka on February 7 at a stop-and-search checkpoint in Okigwe while she was traveling to Ebonyi State with the child.

Investigations revealed that the boy had been taken from his mother’s shop at No. 22 Chimezie Street, Obohia, Abia State. Initially, the suspect claimed the child was her sister’s son, but inconsistencies in her statements raised suspicions. The boy, displaying awareness, provided his father’s phone number, which led to his identification as a missing child reported in Abia State.

Further inquiries uncovered that Emeka had received N30,000 from a syndicate that remains at large, intending to deliver the child to a buyer in Ebonyi State. The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, with authorities working to apprehend other members of the syndicate. The suspect will be prosecuted once investigations are concluded.

Imo State Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and take extra precautions to ensure the safety of their children.