The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Capital Territory Command, has arrested a man planning to sell his eight-year-old son for N20m.
Parading suspects at the command, the FCT Commandant, Olusola Odumosu, on Tuesday, said the son’s father, Chinana Tali, was arrested alongside Pius Aondoakaa on January 10, 2024 for conspiring to sell Ushafa Tali.
Narrating how the suspects were arrested, Odumosu said, “The FCT Command’s ardent and astute intelligence personnel in their proactive engagements in January 2024, intercepted a father who conspired with another to trade an eight-year-old boy who he claimed to be his child for the sum of N20m in the FCT.
“Following a tip-off, the suspects were immediately placed under surveillance. One of the suspects, Pius Aondoakaa, in a quest for a higher bid, rejected the sum of N12m and was looking for N20m for a “He-goat”, meaning a boy child.
“He also offered a “she-goat” (i.e. girl child) for N15m. Pius claimed to have a boy child for sale and that the father of the boy wanted to use the proceeds of the sale to take care of his other children.”
Giving more information, the commandant added, “In view of this, the acclaimed father of the boy, Mr. China Telpesa Solomon Tali, was lured to Abuja on January 10, 2024, by the FCT Intelligence Personnel who posed as a buyer and agreed on the terms to buy and pay the sum of N20m.
“He was received at a garden with his son by the undercover personnel who posed as the buyer. The transaction was concluded for the sum of N20m after which officers moved in and arrested the father, Mr Chinana Tali, male, 42 years old of Logo LGA, of Benue State and recovered the little eight-year-old boy by the name, Ushafa Tali.
“The suspect, Pius Aondoakaa, male, 29 years old, Logo LGA of Benue State, who had connived with the father of the boy, was also arrested on January 12, 2024. Both suspects are Tiv by tribe and from a village called R.C.M Abeda Mbadyul in Logo LGA.”
Odumosu handed over the suspects to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for further investigation, and prosecution while the boy would be reunited with his mother.
Speaking with journalists, the son’s father claimed that the poor economic situation led to the decision to sell his fourth child for N20m to enable him to train his other children.
He said, “The hardship condition pushed me into agreeing to sell my son for N20m to train the remaining five.”
The NAPTIP representative, Oseafiana Chineyere, while receiving the suspects, said, “NAPTIP will investigate this matter and the result will be positive.”
In another development, the NSCDC FCT Command arrested a 23-year-old man, Yakubu Mati, on January 11, 2024 for vandalising armoured cable along the Idu Metro Railway line.
He was arrested in possession of a hoe, a saw blade and a lighter.
Source | Punchng
