A suspected child trafficker, Sunday Onome, has confessed to selling his friend’s child for N1.3 million.
Onome was arrested in Onitsha, Anambra State, alongside his girlfriend and son by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force’s Intelligence Response Unit and the Vicious Crime Response Unit (VCRU).
Two children believed to be victims of a trafficking scheme were also rescued during the operation.
The suspect said he participated in multiple trafficking operations and earned N3.6 million from two assignments. He alleged that the first deal involved the son of a close friend, whom he handed over to members of a syndicate for N1.3 million.
Onome told investigators that financial hardship after losing his job as a private driver pushed him into the illegal trade. He added that he became more involved after meeting a woman who allegedly coordinated operations with him.
Onome told investigators that subsequent operations involved the movement of children across states, with instructions allegedly issued via telephone and payments transferred directly into his bank account upon completion of assignments.
He also alleged that his girlfriend played an active role in coordinating logistics within the network, while his son assisted in transporting children to designated locations before handover to other operatives.
The suspect further confessed that during his most recent assignment, he lodged in a hotel in Onitsha with two children while awaiting contact from individuals expected to receive them.
Police, however, tracked the suspects’ movements and arrested them before the alleged handover could take place.
Investigators say efforts are ongoing to verify the suspect’s claims, identify other members of the alleged trafficking syndicate, and establish the full extent of the network’s operations.
Authorities described the case as part of a wider crackdown on child trafficking, warning that criminal groups are increasingly exploiting trust relationships and informal networks to recruit victims.
Police reiterated that investigations are still ongoing and that all suspects remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.
