Baby merchant used vulnerable girls for business’ MARCH 24, 2014 BY COMFORT OSEGHALE 18 COMMENTS print Baby merchant | credits: Comfort Oseghale Although 39-year-old Angela Chidozie, was known by other residents at Akute community as a trader in women’s wears and shoes, her trade was simply a cover up for what she really did for a living; selling babies. A mother of five, Chidozie’s strategy was to get teenage girls from poor homes who were pregnant, desperate and had no idea what to do with their lives. In exchange for taking them in, feeding and housing them, Chidozie would sell their babies to childless couples. The Ogun State Police Command said Chidozie’s relatives were mostly her suppliers who directed vulnerable girls to her. Chidozie was arrested at her home last Thursday by the Ajuwon Police Division, Ogun State after the police received a tip-off about her activities. Also arrested was Chidozie’s brother-in-law, 26-year-old Obinna Ndunaga. Nine victims, all in varying stages of pregnancy and aged between 16-22 years, were rescued. Chizodie’s home, a five bedroom bungalow at 9, Sebanjo Crescent, off Fabolude Bus Stop, Akute, from all outward appearances, had all the trappings of a private residence when PUNCH Metro visited the place. Although it was deserted on Friday, parked within the spacious compound were four exotic vehicles. Within the house however, the story was different; two of the bedrooms had several mattresses on the floor. They had apparently been allocated to accommodate Chidozie’s pregnant victims. One of the victims, 16-year-old Precious Stevens, who claimed to be an orphan, said she travelled to Ogun from Akwa Ibom State after she was allegedly informed by a stranger that Chidozie had a solution for girls in her predicament. Once Stevens got to Akute, it was learnt that she was given the options of obeying Chidozie or being left in the cold. Stevens said, “I am an orphan. Before I came down to Akute, I worked as a sales girl in Akwa Ibom State for a businesswoman. Then, I was in JSSI. “When she discovered I was pregnant, she sent me away and I had nowhere else to go; my boyfriend denied any responsibility for the pregnancy. So, when I met someone who assured me that she could get me help, I did not hesitate when she put me in a vehicle from Akwa Ibom to Ogun State. It was learnt that when Stevens got to the suspect, the arrangement was that after the delivery of the baby, she was going to give it up for sale. The victim said she agreed since she did not have any option or anybody to help her take care of the baby. She said, “I did not want my baby. I knew Chidozie was going to sell my child after I put to bed. “But now that we have been found out, I want the government to take the child so I can return to school.” It was the same tale with 21-year-old Vivien Princewill, who was also directed to Chidozie’s home by a friend. She told PUNCH Metro that having the baby was not an option for her. She added that she could not even inform the man who got her pregnant for undisclosed reason. She said, “When I found out that I was pregnant, I couldn’t tell my boyfriend. A friend of mine, who was aware of my predicament, directed me to Chidozie’s house.” Again, Princewill’s condition for staying in the house was that she would give up the baby for sale. She told our correspondent that she was also promised monetary reward. She said, “I was told my baby would be sold after delivery and that I would be paid, but Chidozie didn’t say how much.” The Ogun State Police Commissioner, Mr. Ikememfuna Okoye, said Chidozie usually sold a baby for N300,000. He explained that the girls initially attempted to help Chidozie evade arrest by hiding from policemen. He said, “When the policemen got to Chidozie’s house, there was no one in sight. We later returned and after a thorough search, we discovered five of the girls hiding in one room. “Three more girls were later discovered to have been hiding in a wardrobe in one of the rooms by the policemen that we left behind.” The brother-in-law, however, told PUNCH Metro that he had no role in the baby selling business. He said, “I just came from Lagos to spend some time with my brother and his family. Although I was aware of what they really did for a living, I took no part in it.” But Chidozie insisted that the girls wanted their babies sold and she was merely helping them. She said, “These girls came to me on their own to help sell their babies and I sell each baby for N300,000 to childless couples. I then pay the girls between N70,000 to N80, 000. I have sold five babies so far.” However, throwing more light on the incident, the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “Chidozie had several ways of recruiting vulnerable victims. “From our investigation, some of the victims were brought to Chidozie by her relatives who knew she was selling babies. “Others came on their own because they did not want their parents to know about their situations. “Chidozie has her people spread all over the place who bring her such victims. “Currently, the case has been transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking and Child Labour unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department at Eleweran. “From some of the text messages found on Chidozie’s phone, we were able to gather that she had made transactions with certain people on this issue. “We intend to get potential and regular buyers of babies from Chidozie. “At the end of our investigation, all those found culpable would be prosecuted along with Chidozie.”
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 10:00:31 +0000
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