The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a couple for allegedly attempting to sell their two-year-old son to fund their relocation to Canada. The father, Uchenna Eziekwe, a 28-year-old labourer, and his 22-year-old wife, Chineye, were apprehended at Isolo General Hospital in Lagos while inquiring about selling their child.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the arrest to newsmen, detailing the events that led to the couple’s capture. “Around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) at Isolo Police Station received information that a couple had declared their intention to sell their baby boy at Isolo General Hospital,” Hundeyin said.
Upon receiving the tip-off, police operatives swiftly moved to the hospital, where they intercepted Uchenna and Chineye Eziekwe as they were about to finalize the sale of their child. The baby was promptly rescued, and the couple was taken into custody. “During interrogation, the couple confessed that they planned to sell the baby to enable the man to travel to Canada for greener pastures,” Hundeyin added, noting that the investigation is ongoing.
In a shocking revelation, Uchenna Eziekwe admitted to convincing his wife to go along with the plan, citing the harsh economic conditions as the driving force behind their desperate decision. “It was a difficult decision, but we felt we had no choice. We thought it would be better to sell him to someone who could take care of him than to watch him die of hunger,” Eziekwe explained.
He further elaborated on their dire situation: “I am a labourer who seeks work at construction sites, while my wife has no job. The decision was heart-wrenching, but the hardship left us with no alternatives.”
This shocking case highlights the extreme measures some individuals are willing to take in the face of economic adversity, prompting urgent calls for better social support systems to prevent such desperate acts.
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