NSCDC arrests orphanage owner, five others over alleged baby sale

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Imo State says it has arrested a suspected child trafficking syndicate and rescued five newborn babies during an operation in Owerri, the state capital.

The state Commandant of the corps, Basil Igwebueze, disclosed this on Saturday while briefing journalists on the command’s recent operations.

According to him, the prime suspect, Tochukwu Ogaranya, 52, was apprehended alongside five pregnant women aged between 25 and 33. Another suspect, Godwin Nnamdi, 47, was also arrested in connection with the alleged operation.

Igwebueze explained that the arrests followed a suspicious incident involving a pregnant teenager who attempted to flee from an orphanage located in the World Bank area of Owerri.

“On March 14, one of our officers noticed a pregnant teenager running away from the orphanage at the World Bank area of Owerri,” he said.

“This prompted my officers to move into action at the orphanage, arrested the owner of the orphanage and rescued the pregnant women and newborn babies.”

The NSCDC commandant described child trafficking as a grave offence and urged members of the public to remain vigilant and assist security agencies with useful information.

“Child trafficking is a heinous crime. Residents must say something when they see something,” he said.

He added that public cooperation was key to uncovering such crimes.

“If the residents of the state had not assisted us with the necessary information, the command would not have uncovered such a criminal act,” he said.

However, the orphanage proprietor, Ogaranya, denied involvement in child trafficking, insisting that her facility operates legally.

She claimed that the orphanage had proper certification and was not engaged in illegal adoption or sale of babies.