Ebonyi State Police Command has recovered a five-month-old baby sold by her biological mother to a maternity home operator for N500,000.
The 20-year-old mother, Ola Echegbu Chima, was arrested last week alongside her lover and father of the baby, Jonah Ogbuagu.
Ola gave birth to the baby in April 2022 at Obigbo, Rivers state, conspired with Ogbuagu and sold the baby to Elechi Ann Mma, owner of the maternity home.
The State Commissioner of Police, Aliyu Garba, who confirmed the development in a statement signed by spokesperson of the command, SP Chris Anyanwu, said the baby has been handed over to the biological mother for care and upkeep, pending further developments .
“Ola Echegbu Chima, a 20yr old girl, a native of Amangwu Edda in Afikpo-South L.G.A was impregnated out of wedlock in the year, 2021, by Jonah Ogbonna Ogbuagu of same address,” the statement read.
“On 12th April 2022, she put to bed, but a few days after sold the child to Elechi Ann Mma, owner of a local maternity home and native of Ezi Okpani, Evuma village in Afikpo North LGA of Ebonyi State, who was already arrested for another offense of child-trafficking.
“So on behalf of Ebonyi State police command, I am handing over the baby recovered through the joint efforts of SP Philip Agu-led Crack Squad and SP Miliscent Amad-led D7 team of detectives attached to the SCIID in Abakaliki, back to his biological mother, Ola Echegbu Chima for care and upkeep pending further developments,” he said.