Ebonyi State Police Command has recovered a five-month-old baby sold by her biological mother to a maternity home operator for N500,000.
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The 20-year-old mother, Ola Echegbu Chima, was arrested last week alongside her lover and father of the baby, Jonah Ogbuagu.Â
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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.Â
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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 .Â
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“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.
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“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.
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“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.
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