Anthony Igbinogun, 48, and his 28-year-old girlfriend, Joy Umukoro, have been detained by the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking for allegedly selling their one-month-old child to buy drugs.

James Precious, a friend of the suspects who connected them to the person who bought the baby in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was said to have been allegedly detained along with the suspects.

Abigail Ihonre, Head of the Edo State Taskforce Against Human Trafficking’s Investigation Unit, revealed to the press that the baby was sold for N1.7 million.

According to Ihonre, the baby’s mother has admitted to being guilty of selling the child. She noted that the case is still under investigation, and they are stepping up the search for the baby and the buyers as the matter will be brought before the court on Monday, June 26 to ensure that those responsible face the consequences of their illegal behaviour.

She added that according to their probe, Joy Umukoro planned with her partner to sell their child for N1.7 million after she gave birth to it in April.

Speaking to the press on the couple’s reason for selling their child and the penalty for their crime, Ihonre said these people, who were said to be drug addicts, made the decision to sell the baby after realising they could not care for him.

The average prison sentence for trafficking is seven years.