The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a 64-year-old man, Mr Nnanna Michael, for operating an illegal baby home and engaging in child trafficking.

The corps also rescued two females, identified as Doris Nelson, 23, from Gombe State, and Ugochukwu Winner, 21, from lhite Uboma in Imo State, from the suspect’s residence. Michael hails from Arochukwu in Abia State.

According to a statement by the command’s spokesperson, Doreen Udugwu Ugochi, the arrest followed a credible intelligence report sent to the command.
Miss Nelson gave birth on Monday, September 9, 2024, and sold her baby the following day to an unidentified buyer. Miss Winner, who was seven months pregnant, was being held by the suspect during his arrest on September 12, 2024.

In his confession, Michael, a father of four and a former worker at a motherless home, admitted to harbouring pregnant women, taking care of them until delivery, and then selling their babies.

He revealed that Doris Nelson was introduced to him by his contact from Abuja named Miracle, who brought her to his residence in Aba. After giving birth to a baby girl, Michael sold the baby for N1.1 million, promising Doris N100,000, of which she had already received N50,000.

Further investigations revealed that Miss Winner was introduced to Michael by Evangelist First Samuel, who resides in Aba but is now at large. The agreement was for Michael to purchase the baby after delivery and sell it to potential buyers.

Preliminary investigations further revealed that Michael has been in the illicit business for a long time, leveraging his contacts from his previous work experience at a motherless home to find both buyers and sellers.

Michael admitted to selling one baby last year and two this year before his arrest. Upon the conclusion of the investigation, the command will transfer the case to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), which is empowered to prosecute such offences.