Herbalist arrested in Abuja for selling newborn babies

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP), has arrested a herbalist, Mr Chigozie Emmanuel, aka ‘Akuchi’, for selling newborn babies in Abuja.

NAPTIP said in a statement on Sunday in Abuja, that Emmanuel, 38, is from Enugu State and the owner of Akuchi Herbal Concept, located at New Nyanya, Abuja.

The statement said he was arrested “after weeks of diligent surveillance by officers of the Agency and those of the Department of State services’’.

Emmanuel was allegedly “deceiving women into thinking they are pregnant and thereafter giving other people’s babies to them having collected lots of money.

“The arrest was based on a previous arrest by the Nigerian Police, of a woman whom they saw with a baby in Abuja en route Minna, Niger State.

“Based on their suspicion, they detained and questioned the woman on the identity of the baby she carried. She admitted to being a patient of Emmanuel, whom she said administered some herbs to her after years of infertility.

“She thereafter appeared pregnant and was cautioned against going to the hospital for any medical treatment or ante-natal care.

“When it was time for her ‘delivery’, Mr Emmanuel directed her to Port-Harcourt where a baby was handed over to her. She confessed to paying Mr Emmanuel the sum of six hundred and fifty thousand naira (N650,000) for his services’’.

The statement added that Emmanuel, who was arrested at the weekend, “is helping in further investigations on the sale of human beings and child trafficking’’.

The Director-General of NAPTIP, Dame Julie Okah-Donli confirmed the arrest to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

She also commended the Officers for their painstaking surveillance which culminated in the arrest.

Okah-Donli further warned the public, especially women, to stop patronizing such ‘herbalists’, as the sale of babies is a crime punishable by law.

The NAPTIP boss advised couples who wish to adopt a child to go through the legal means of adoption.

According to her, “some of the babies sold to these women were abducted by their biological parents.”

She, however, called for more information from the public about any such act or ‘maternity homes’ being run in their neighbourhood.