BENIN CITY — A major human trafficking tragedy was averted in Edo State on Thursday evening after local community security operatives apprehended a couple for attempting to sell a two-year-old toddler for three million naira (₦3,000,000).
The suspects, identified as Charity Jacob and her husband, Monday John, were caught red-handed at the point of negotiation by the Idumebo Security Network in the Esan Central Local Government Area of the state.
The victim, a two-year-old female child, is the biological daughter of Charity Jacob’s sister.
According to local security sources, the suspects, who are reportedly natives of Benue State residing in Edo, allegedly stole the child from her mother without her knowledge or consent. They subsequently smuggled the toddler to Idumebo community in Esan Central to finalize a clandestine deal with an intending buyer.
Acting on a sharp intelligence tip-off, the Idumebo community vigilante group stormed the designated transaction venue at about 7:30 PM on June 11. The operatives disrupted the illegal trade, successfully rescued the unhurt toddler, and immediately took the couple into custody.
During a preliminary interrogation by the community security team, the suspects confessed to the crime, admitting they had priced the innocent toddler at ₦3 million before the dragnet closed in on them.
The leadership of the Idumebo Security Network confirmed that the rescued child has been kept in safe custody while arrangements are being finalized to hand over the suspects and recovered evidence to the Edo State Police Command for formal prosecution.
Human trafficking and child stealing carry severe prison sentences under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Edo State and federal anti-trafficking statutes.
