Recently, a man was dragged to the Afonka Divisional Police Station in Shasha, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, accused of selling his son for ritual purposes. The neighbourhood thronged the station expressing anger and brandishing high temper. Left alone, the angry crowd would have preferred jungle justice on the man by lynching him and sending him to his early grave.
What happened in Shasha is not strange; selling of children by parents has become a common practice in Nigeria and tongues are wagging as to the extent the evil would remain part of us. In the past, it was unheard of that a parent took moves to exchange his or her child for cash, no matter the reason. But that is no longer the case. Sale of children has become rampant across our nation. Continue after the cut...
Late last year, a man who intended to sell his child for N10 million was prosecuted and jailed for 5 years by a Chief Magistrate Count in Minna, Niger State. Reports stated that the accused, 30-year-old, Isah Aliyu contacted one Magaji Atiku with the intention of selling his nine-year-old son for N10 million. He attributed the reason why he wanted to sell the child to the biting level of his poverty state. Though the asking price was N10 million, Magaji succeeded in beating the price down to N7 million to which the accused agreed to.
Magaji however told Aliyu that he would pay half of the bargained price for the boy and promised to balance the remaining after he was through with what he needed the boy for but Aliyu disagreed insisting that the money must be paid in full. Seeing the seriousness of Aliyu to sell his son, Magaji excused himself under the pretext of going to source for the money and reported the incident to the police. The police then followed Magaji to the meeting place and arrested Aliyu who was still waiting for the money to be brought so that he could handover his son. Aliyu pleaded guilty to the charges read by the Chief Magistrate Hassan Mohammed and was summarily sentenced to five years imprisonment.
When asked why he intended to sell his son, Aliyu said: "The level of poverty in the country is very biting and things are difficult for me and my family. I felt since the boy was under my custody and he is my son, I can sell him and use the money to cater for the rest of the family."
But the Chief Magistrate faulted his reason stating that poverty is not a strong reason for the father to sell his son. "Is it because of poverty that you will sell your son like someone who is selling a goat? That is not reason enough."
In June last year, according to reports, the Abia State Police Command arrested a 25-year-old man, Chisom Ihemebirim from Amuzi Obowo in Imo State, for selling his one-and-half-years-old son, Chidubem Chisom for N500,000. The command also arrested one Abraham Ukaiwe, 27, from Asaga Ohafia in Abia State said to be Ihemebirim's accomplice in the deal to sell the boy.
Little Chidubem Chisom was said to have been sold to one Mercy Nwachinemere, 45, of Umudi Abayi in Osisioma, Abia State who was also arrested.
According to the Police Commissioner, Mohammed Tilli Abubakar, little master Chidubem Chisom was recovered from the buyer. Parading the suspects, Abubakar said his men moved into action following a report by one Kasarachi John, 23, from Mbawsi in Isiala Ngwa North Council said to be the estranged wife of Ihemebirim. Kasarachi John, according to the Police Commissioner, reported that sometime in February 2013, she had a misunderstanding with Ihemebirim, her husband which made her to leave his house.
Speaking to journalists, Ihemebirim admitted selling the boy for N500, 000. According to him, he used the money to process documents he wanted to use to travel to Libya or Spain. He also claimed that he used part of it to renovate his house.
Similarly, in May this year, a Chief Magistrate’s court in Akure, Ondo State, sentenced one Kareem Saibu, 39, a citizen of the Republic of Benin, to three years in prison for attempting to sell his 13-year-old son for N8m. Sentenced along with him were Abdullateef Mumuni and Kadir Rasaq, who are also from the Republic of Benin. They would be spending three years each behind the bars for their involvement in the crime The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Adebanji Ayeomoni, sentenced each of them without an option of fine.
Commenting on the development, a Lagos-based Clergyman, Pastor Ifeanyi Ezebuadi, Regional Pastor, The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Ministries, Akowonjo, condemned the heinous act and called for capital punishment against parents found guilty of selling or attempting to sell their children. In a telephone interview, Ezebuadi said, “Parents selling their kids is epitome of rights abuse. The culprits should be made to face capital punishment. I advocate re-orientation and sensitization of the society” in this regard.
