Couple Sells Their Newborn Baby to Buy Drugs in Edo

A shocking case of child trafficking has been uncovered in Edo State, where a couple allegedly sold their one-month-old baby to buy drugs.

The couple, identified as Anthony Igbinogun, 48, and Joy Umukoro, 28, were arrested by the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking, along with their friend, Precious James, 26, who helped them find a buyer in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

According to the Taskforce Head of the Investigation Unit, Abigail Ihonre, who spoke to reporters on Friday in Benin, the baby was sold for N1.7 million.

She said the suspects confessed to the crime and admitted that they were drug addicts who could not afford to take care of their baby.

“Our investigations revealed that Joy Umukoro, the mother of the baby, delivered the baby in April 2023, and conspired with her boyfriend to sell their baby for N1.7 million. She has confessed to the crime of selling the baby,” she said.

She added that the taskforce was working hard to trace the buyers and recover the baby, and vowed that anyone involved in the illegal trade would face the full weight of the law.

“The suspects said they carried out the dastardly act because they couldn’t take care of the baby. These people are alleged drug addicts and when it was clear that they couldn’t take care of the baby, they decided to sell him. But that wasn’t the best option for them as the decision may destroy their lives,” she said.

The baby’s mother, Joy Umukoro, told reporters that she sold the one-month-old baby to a woman in Port Harcourt for N700,000. She said she gave N500,000 to her boyfriend, N170,000 to the agent who linked her to the buyer, and spent the rest on drugs.

“After giving birth to the baby, life became very difficult and I approached my friend to help me with a buyer and she gave me the link. I travelled to Port Harcourt with another woman and sold the baby for N700,000. The drugs I take are the cause. I also sent some money to my other two children for upkeep and some others for my father’s burial,” she said.

The baby’s father, Anthony Igbinogun, said he agreed to sell the baby because his girlfriend said she couldn’t take care of him.

“She told me that her friend Precious James had found a buyer and she travelled to Rivers State to sell the baby and when she returned, she gave me N100,000,” he said.

Precious James, who facilitated the illegal deal, said they were all drug addicts and couldn’t take care of the baby.

“My friend told me she sold the baby for N700,000 and when she came back she bought drugs for me from the money,” he said.

Newsflash Nigeria is an online newspaper that is developed and written exclusively for Nigerians. It’s packed with up-to-the-minute Local and National Economy News, Share & Capital Market, Health, Sports, Education, Technology, Business and Opinions.

To make further advert enquiries or place an order, please contact us at [email protected] and +2348053316946 and WhatsApp number 08033546732