The Police in Katsina state have arrested four suspects over alleged sale of a four month old baby girl, for three hundred thousand Naira.
Police spokesman, Gambo Isah, who paraded the suspects said, they are between the ages of 25 and 45.
According to Isah, the suspects are from Adamawa, Delta and Anambra states respectively, but are residents of the Katsina Metropolis, except Chinwendu from Anambra, who came on a visit.
Gambo Isah gave their names as Zainab Adamu, Ruth Kenneth, Chukwudi Elias and Chinwendu Umeh.
Isah said that the police arrested the suspects on November 26, shortly after Umeh took possession of the baby from the real mother, after 300,000 Naira allegedly exchanged hands.
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However, the suspects insisted that what took place was child adoption and not child sale, as being alleged by the police.
45 year old Chinwendu Umeh, who is from Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, who has been married for many years, said she is a successful trader, dealing on tomatoes and onions, who plies her trade between Anambra and Katsina.
Umeh added that being a barren woman, she discussed her problem with Kenneth, her brother, who introduced Adamu to her, and agreed to allow the baby to be in her custody for the rest of the baby’s life.
Umeh further explained that to formalize the adoption, the three of them, (Umeh, Adamu and Kenneth), approached a motherless children’s home in Katsina, where an officer prepared a letter, which all of them endorsed.She denied buying the baby.
25 year old Zainab Adamu, the original mother of the baby, equally said, Umeh voluntarily gave her the money, adding that she gave out the baby to someone who could take good care of her, instead of dumping her in the bush or elsewhere.
Meanwhile, the third suspect, Ruth Kenneth, who spoke through her lawyer, Moses Okwah, said it was wrong for the police to conclude that the baby was sold.
The police spokesman further insisted that Umeh paid the 300,000 Naira for the baby, as proof of 165,000 Naira was found on Adamu, as at the time of her arrest.He said, investigation is ongoing.
(Editor Paul Akhagbemhe)
