Anthony Igbinogun, 48, and Joy Umukoro, 28, were detained by the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking after they allegedly sold their one-month-old child to acquire narcotics.
According to reports, the suspects were captured along with their friend James Precious, who was able to connect them to the baby’s buyer in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Abigail Ihonre, the head of the investigation unit for the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, revealed the price of the infant to reporters in Benin City.
Ihonre claimed that the baby’s mother had admitted to having sold the child. As the case will be brought before the court on Monday, June 26, 2023, we are stepping up our search for the baby and the buyers in order to ensure that everyone responsible for the crime faces the consequences of their unlawful actions.
“Our inquiries showed that Joy Umukoro, who gave birth in April 2023, plotted with her partner to sell their child for N1.7 million.
“The suspects claimed that they committed the heinous act because they couldn’t care for the infant. These people are said to be drug addicts, and when it became obvious that they couldn’t care for the child, they made the decision to sell him. They knew that wasn’t the greatest course of action because it might endanger their lives. Seven years in jail is the approximate punishment for trafficking.
