The Cross River State Police Command said last Wednesday that it had in its custody, a 52-year old man, Abraham Udoh, who allegedly sold his two-year old son for N150,000.
The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Hafiz Inuwa, disclosed this at a media briefing in Calabar.
Inuwa said that the suspect was arrested on July 24, shortly after his wife, Esther, reported the matter to the police.
The Police Commissioner said that Udoh sold the child without the consent of the wife.
He said thorough interrogation revealed that the suspect sold the child to an unknown woman residing in Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.
“On the 24th of July, 2017, a case of child trafficking was reported at our Uwanse Divisional headquarters in Calabar.
“One Esther Abraham reported that his husband sold their two-year old son without her consent.
“Upon investigation, Udoh revealed that he sold the child at the sum of N150, 000 to an unknown woman residing in Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.
“When he was arrested, the sum of N103, 000 was recovered from him and registered as an exhibit.
“Investigation is in progress to arrest the alleged buyer and recover the child before they will be charged to court,” he said.
Udoh admitted selling his son for the said amount in an interview with newsmen.
“Actually, I sold the child because I needed some money. I have six children and I am really sorry for not telling my wife about it,’’ he said.
The commissioner also told journalists that 26 other suspects were arrested by the state command for various offences in the state between June and July.
Inuwa said five of them were armed robbery suspects arrested on July 20, after they had invaded the house of one Angela Obo in Calabar South.
He said some locally-made pistols, one revolver also made locally, three rounds of 9 mm ammunition, three live cartridges among others items, were recovered from the criminals.