The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) apprehended Chinana Tali in Abuja as he was about to sell his eight-year-old son, Ushafa Tali, for N20 million.
Speaking at the suspect’s parade in Abuja, NSCDC FCT Commandant Olusola Odumosu stated that the child trafficking suspect was apprehended after being enticed to Abuja from Benue.
He said that the arrest of Chinana, who was accompanying his son, was the result of an intelligence tip-off about his plan to sell Ushafa to the highest bidder possible.
Odumosu explained:“We booked an appointment with the suspect at a garden where we had one of our men pose as a buyer while we had our men surround them.
“He came all the way from Benue to sell his supposed child to a buyer without caring about what might befall the child afterwards.
“To arrest his accomplice, we had to send transport fare to him after he was being deceived that the deal had been settled.”
He said that the father who was initially offered N12 million refused and insisted that the boy who he referred to as a “He-goat” during his conversation on phone be bought at the rate of N20 million.
“He also offered to sell his girl child whom he referred to as a She-goat for N15 million, if he didn’t get a buyer for the boy.
“We are not sure of the paternity yet but more will be uncovered during further investigation as he claimed that the mother, his wife, had no idea of the transaction.”
The Commandant stated that the Corps was devoted to protecting lives and property and would continue to take extraordinary steps to prevent crimes from occurring.
He did, however, advise anyone with ill intents, such as Tali and his collaborators, to stop since child trafficking was a serious offense.
Odumosu stated that he will bring up the father, son, and one accomplice to authorities from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and potential prosecution.
Chinana, when being interviewed, stated that he is a father of six children and had decided to sell one of them to help collect funds to support his huge family.
He said:“It is because of hardship and no money so I needed to find a way to train my other children.”
Mrs Chinyere Oseafiama, NAPTIP Senior Intelligence Assistant, who was there to take custody of the father and son, as well as the other suspect, guaranteed that the case would be properly examined and necessary action taken.
“We are happy for what the NSCDC has done and we are assuring that NAPTIP will do the needful and get back to the public with a positive report regarding the case,” Oseafiama said.
The Commandant further stated that a young guy was recently apprehended for vandalising armored wires along the Idu Railway Line in the region.
He stated that the suspect had a hoe for digging out the wires and a saw for cutting the dug out cables.
“The suspect will be arraigned and prosecuted according to the law to serve as a deterrent to other vandals,” Odumosu said.
