A 20-year-old lady identified a Chinaza Onwuasoanya, has been taken into custody of the Special Armed Robbery Squad, SARS, in Anambra State for alleged child-trafficking.
Onwuasoanya, reportedly started the illicit business when she sold her unwanted baby girl to one Goodness, a 45-year-old woman, for N150,000.
After which she moved into full-time child-trafficking.
Recounting her journey into child-trafficking, Onwuasoanya told the Sun, “I got into child trafficking two years ago. I have sold 20 male and female children to Madam Goodness who operates the orphanage. She paid me between N150,000 and N200,000 for each baby I sold to her.
“I got to know her when I became pregnant and gave birth to a girl on October 4, 2013. After I delivered the baby, a friend introduced me to Madam Goodness. I took my daughter to her and she gave me N150,000.00, to take care of myself.
“After that time, I decided to go into child trafficking by kidnapping children coming back from school or getting them in the street.
“Then I would take them to Madam Goodness. And she would sell them between N150,000 and N200,000. But I was arrested on May 1, 2017, when I stole a set of twins at an estate in Onitsha and took them to my house. Suddenly the father of the twins traced me to my house and came with policemen and I was arrested.”
Onwuasoanya who hails from Ebenebe, Awka North Local Government Area of Anambra State, confessed to being a member of the gang of robbers who killed two policemen, Inspector Shuaibu Usman and Sergeant Julius Matthew, of Police Mobile Force on 29 of February, 2017 at Nkpor fly-over, Onitsha and took their AK-47 rifles, which were later used to commit robberies in Nkpor, Obosi, Ogidi, Nkpor Old Road, Awka, Oye-agu.
She also assisted the SARS operatives to arrest three members of the gang while the other six members escaped and are still at large. She disclosed that she was always given her own share of the money made during robbery operations, saying that she got between N50,000 and N80,000.
“I have regretted what I did. My parents are alive. It was my friend who introduced to child trafficking and which led me to armed robbery today.”
The Commander of SARS, Supol Sunday Okpe said that Ownuasoanya’s confession led to the arrest of three people alleged to be members of the gang.
He gave the names of the suspects as, 22-year-old Ifeanyi Onwukwe a.k.a Nger, Chidubem Osita a.k.a Kabaka, 23, and Chijioke Obi a.k.a Abababa, 23.
