Police in Imo State have arrested two women, Chizoba Eze and Amaka Eze, for allegedly buying new-born twins, Emmanuel and Emmanuela, for N1.8m in Umuahia, Abia State.
The women, who were said to be from Enugu State, were paraded on Monday by the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Andrew Enwerem, who said the suspects were intercepted on Owerri-Aba Road.
The suspects were paraded alongside six others, who also allegedly abducted and sold nine other children.
Enwerem said, “In our ongoing onslaught against child trafficking, operatives of the command have rescued new-born twins from suspected child traffickers.
“The twins, a boy and a girl, were rescued on Owerri-Aba Road following a coordinated operation by the command.
“The suspects, who impersonated the mother of the twins, have made useful statements. We will charge them to court at the end of investigation.”
Enwerem added that other suspects were arrested in Imo, Edo and Lagos State, while their victims (children) were rescued.
He gave the names of the suspects as Theresa Asiegbu, Chioma Emeka, Happiness Peter, Martina Nwadike and Martha Ojimba.
The police spokesperson also gave the names of the rescued children as Somtochukwu Obiduba, Kosarachi Obiduba, Onyinyechi Okpala, Divine Anyaka, Wunmi Habeeb, Chisere Nwadike and one Ndubuisi.
“Immediately the suspects steal a child, they will change his or her name to erase suspicion. So, parents and guardians, whose children are missing, are advised to report to the Public Relations Department of the Imo State Police Command for the identification and collection of their children,” Enwerem added.
One of the suspects, Eze, said she paid N1.8m through an arrangement, called sceptic pregnancy, to have the twins.
Another suspect, Ojimba, confessed that she sold one of the babies for N300,000.
A man, whose two children were handed over to him during the parade, Mike Nkwo, said they were stolen on their way to a coaching class in 2015.
The police spokesman advised parents to be mindful of those they leave their children with.
