The police command in Ebonyi has detained a middle-aged man, Chukwuma Onwe, for selling his five-day-old son for N1.5 million.

Mr Onwe, a native of Nwezenyi-Igbeagu Community in Izzi LGA, was apprehended when his would-be wife, Philomena Iroko, alerted her neighbour, who informed the police of the fiancé’s action.

The baby boy was said to have been sold to Chinyere Ugochukwu, a female, who was also nabbed by the police.

Joshua Ukandu, the command’s spokesman, disclosed on Saturday in Abakaliki that the baby had been recovered from the alleged buyer. He said that the father of the child was arrested alongside the alleged buyer on Friday at the Azugwu area of Abakaliki LGA.

“Yes, he, Onwe, has been arrested and is currently in our custody. We are going to commence an investigation into the matter,” the officer said.

Ms Iroko, the baby’s mother, said that her proposed husband took away her son to Ugochukwu (the alleged buyer) without her knowledge.

“The man, who is yet to be my husband, took the child and lied to me that he gave the baby to his sister for further care. I did not know that the woman he gave my son to had already paid him in exchange for my five-day-old baby. Thank God, my son has been recovered and he is healthy. I commend the Nigeria Police Force,” she said.

(NAN)