NSCDC Arrests Man At Point Of Selling His Son

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command, have arrested one Mr Chinana Solomon Tali at the point of selling his eight-year-old son, Ushafa Tali for N20 million Naira.

The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Mr Olusola Odumosu while addressing newsmen said that the suspect was arrested after being lured to Abuja from Benue.

Odumosu said that the arrest of the father who was with his son, followed an intelligence tip-off of his quest to get the highest bidder.

“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.

“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.

The Commandant said that the father who was initially offered N12 million refused and insisted that the boy whom he referred to as a “He-goat” be bought at the rate of N20 million while his girl child whom he referred to as a She-goat would be sold for N15 million, if he didn’t get a buyer for the boy.

The Commandant said that the Corps was dedicated to ensuring the protection of lives and property and would continue to take drastic measures to nip crimes in the bud.

He warned persons who may have such evil intentions to desist as child trafficking was a serious offence.

Odumosu further handed over the father, son and one accomplice to representatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and possible prosecution.

Tali while being interrogated said that he is a father of six children and had decided to sell one of his children to help raise money to take care of his large family.

NAPTIP’s Senior Intelligence Assistant, Mrs Chinyere Oseafiama, assured that the case will be thoroughly investigated for appropriate actions.

In another development, the Commandant NSCDC FCT Command, Mr Olusola Odumosu said a young man was recently arrested after being caught vandalising armoured cables along Idu Railway Line in the territory.

According to him, the suspect had in his possession a hoe used in digging out the cables and a saw that he used in cutting the dug-out cables.

He said the suspect would be arraigned and prosecuted according to the law to serve as a deterrent to other vandals.

By Nkiru Njemanze, Edited By Grace Namiji