Undercover personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, (NSCDC), have arrested a 42-year-old man, Chinana Telpesa-Tali for attempting to sell his eighth-year-old son, Ushafa Chiana-Tali for N20 million in Abuja.

Commandant, NSCDC Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), Command, Olusola Odumosu, made this known at a press conference yesterday in Abuja.

He explained that the undercover personnel was able to arrest the culprit following intelligence that someone was looking for a buyer of a ‘he goat’, (a male child), at the cost of N20 million and a ‘she goat for N15 million.

Posing as a buyer for the agreed sum, an undercover officer made contact with the middle man, 29-year-old Pius Aondoakaa, who explained that the father of the child had earlier rejected a N12 million offer because he wanted to use the money to train his remaining children but is also willing to sell another child, a female.

Odumosu said “We have re-doubled our efforts to reduce crime in the FCT to the barest minimum. To this end the FCT Command’s ardent and astute intelligence personnel in their proactive engagements in the month of January, 2024, intercepted a father who conspired with another to trade an eight (8) year old boy who he claimed to be his child forthe sum of twenty (20) million 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 twelve (12) million naira and was looking for twenty (20) million naira for a “He-goat” meaning a boy child.

“He also offered a “she-goat” (i.e. girl child) for fifteen, (15) million naira. Pius claimed to have a boy child for sale and that the father of the boy wants to use the proceeds of the sale to take care of his other children.

“In view of this, the acclaimed father of the boy, Mr. Chinana Telpesa Solomon Tali was lured to Abuja on the 10th January, 2024 by the FCT intelligence personnel who posed as a buyer and agreed on the terms to buy and pay the sum of twenty million naira

“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 twenty million naira after which officers moved in and arrested the father – Mr. Chinana Solomon Telpesa,” he said.

Both the seller and middle man are from a village called R.C.M Abeda Mbadyul in Logo Local Government Area, (LGA), of Benue State and have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP).

Meanwhile, the command has arrested one Yakubu Mati, 23 years, caught in the act of vandalizing armored cable along the IDU Metro Railway lines, in the FCT.

Items found on home during the arrest include a hoe, a saw blade and a
lighter.

Commandant Odumosu adds that “investigation on this matter has been concluded and the suspect will be
arraigned in the court without delay”.

He urged the public to desist all criminal acts warning that, “there is no room for vandals, their accomplices, or any other criminal vices within the metropolitan city and its environs, as they have no place to hide. They will surely be apprehended and brought to justice.”