Lovers nabbed for strangling their eight- month-old boy in Ebonyi

• Mother, four others arraigned for trying to sell baby
Ebonyi State Police Command has arrested one Ahmed Ajibore, 36, and his 17- year-old  lover-girl, Chidimma Igwe for allegedly strangling their eight-month- old son to death.

The Command Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Loveth Odah, said the duo would soon be charged to court for killing their baby.  The boy’s remains had been exhumed and autopsy conducted, the police spokesperson said.

She noted that the incident occurred at No. 4 Obubra Street, Abakaliki Ebonyi State, while Ahmed, a tricycle mechanic at 72, Ogoja Road Abakaliki resides at Jemeni Street, Abakaliki. He hails from Osun State.

The Guardian learnt that Ahmed allegedly abducted the girl, who was preparing for her WAEC this year, and impregnated her. This made Chidimma’s aunt and her husband, who adopted her, after her father’s death, to worry over her whereabouts.
Ahmed reportedly took Chidimma to Onitsha, Anambra State, where he negotiated with a baby factory operator, who agreed to keep Chidimma in the factory.

The operator agreed to buy the baby at N400,000. Meanwhile, her guardians were still searching for her.
Chidimma, after some months, escaped from the factory and came back to Abakaliki and reunited with her aunt. Ahmed met Chidimma in the night and ordered her to kill their son, Emmanuel.

Ahmed gave Chidimma N3,000 and a tiny wire to strangle the eight-month-old boy to death. He allegedly told her that “Yoruba don’t allow their blood to stay outside”.

Chidimma’s aunt, Mrs. Lovelyn Nwode, said Chidimma used wire to kill  Emmanuel.

Nwode said when she came back from her shop, Chidimma told her that Ahmed, who impregnated her, met her in the kitchen while she was washing plates.

She said Ahmed asked her to open her hand and immediately she did, he dropped a piece of wire and N3,000 and told her that “Yoruba don’t allow their blood to stay outside.”

She said immediately she collected the wire and money, she lost her senses and started behaving strangely.

The aunt said Chidimma became so restless and started destroying her husband’s property including their television set.

“In the morning, I went to the market. While coming back, I heard that she had already killed the baby. When I entered my house, I saw people inside. They were crying. I am very angry over the incident because in my life, I have never seen such a thing”.

Nwode’s elder brother, Stephen Idejimba, called for justice on the matter, describing it as tragedy that befell the family .

“I am totally sad on what happened. It is a big tragedy. I was in Lagos when I got the news and I couldn’t control my emotion. I decided to rush down home over the matter. I will like justice to take its course on this matter,” he said.

Similarly, five persons, including the mother of a four-month-old baby, who conspired among themselves to sell the baby, have been arraigned before a Jos High Court for an offence of illegal criminal conspiracy.

The accused persons, who appeared before the court yesterday, were Sandra Ishaku, the mother of the baby, and Amechi Emmanuel, Gladys Chukwuma, Rose Onu and Barrister Osim Jones Usim who wanted to buy the baby.

The offence was committed in May 2017 at No 7, Suzi Garden, Tafawa Balewa Street in Jos North Local Council, Plateau State.
The accused were also charged with child trafficking for offering the baby for sale for N100,000.

The third count charge was an offence of illegal facilitation of arrangements to foster a child, which only referred to the last four accused persons. Justice Christine Dabup, adjourned the matter to February 19, next year.