In a truly disturbing development from Anambra State, a 72-year-old doctor and two women have been ordered to be remanded in custody for allegedly orchestrating the heart-wrenching abduction and sale of a seven-year-old boy.
Can you even imagine the terror of a parent whose child is stolen? And the sheer audacity of those who would profit from such a monstrous act? This case, unfolding in the Anambra State Children, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Offences Court sitting in Awka, is a stark reminder of the dark underbelly of child trafficking that preys on the most vulnerable.
The Accused: A Doctor, Two Women, and a Web of Deceit
The defendants in this shocking case are identified as Dr. Daniel Ikebuilo, 72, Ifunanya Ogbonna, 23, and Chidiogo Ogbonna, 20. It’s truly unsettling to see a medical professional, someone sworn to protect life, implicated in such a horrific crime. All three have pleaded not guilty to a five-count charge that includes conspiracy, child stealing, illegal dealing, and the sale of a child. Despite their plea, the evidence presented so far paints a grim picture.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. U.E. Onochie, clearly taking the gravity of the allegations seriously, ordered all three defendants to be remanded at the Awka Correctional Centre. This means they’ll be held behind bars while the legal process continues. The case has been adjourned until August 13 for a crucial ruling on their bail application. Given the severity of the charges and the potential risk to other children, one can only hope that justice will be served swiftly and decisively.
The Horrifying Details: A Child Stolen, Bought, and Resold for Profit
The prosecutor, Insp. Chinyere Okechukwu, laid out the chilling details of the alleged crimes before the court. She informed the court that the defendants committed these heinous offenses on April 30, in the Okpoko area of Onitsha.
And here’s where the story gets even more sickening. Okechukwu explicitly stated that the two female defendants, Ifunanya and Chidiogo Ogbonna, allegedly conspired to fraudulently take away the seven-year-old boy from his devastated mother, Kosarachukwu Okpala. Can you feel the mother’s anguish? Her child, snatched away, just like that.
But it gets worse. The prosecutor then revealed the cold, hard numbers that expose the pure, heartless greed behind this operation: “They sold the boy to the doctor for N700,000 and the doctor later re-sold the child for N2.3 million,” she stated. Just let that sink in. An innocent child, treated as a commodity, bought and sold for profit, his life reduced to a transaction. The alleged re-sale by the doctor for a significantly higher price suggests a calculated, criminal enterprise designed for maximum financial gain, with absolutely no regard for the human being involved. It’s truly despicable.
Okechukwu emphasized the legal weight of these actions, claiming that the offenses contravened several crucial laws: Sections 495(a) and 321 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Anambra, 1991, as amended; Section 31(1) (4) of the state’s Child Rights Law of 2004; and Section 15(1) of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition and Protection Law of Anambra State of Nigeria, 2017. These are serious legal provisions designed to protect children and punish those who exploit them.
A Disturbing Pattern: Repeat Offenders?
And here’s the most alarming part, the detail that truly underscores the danger these individuals allegedly pose. The prosecutor urged the court to keep the defendants remanded, revealing a deeply disturbing pattern: Ifunanya Ogbonna and Dr. Ikebuilo had earlier been arraigned on March 5 for similar offenses!
“Immediately after they perfected their bail application following the March arraignment, they stole another child in April,” Okechukwu stated, with a tone that surely conveyed outrage. This is absolutely chilling. It suggests that these individuals, if the allegations hold true, are repeat offenders, undeterred by previous arrests and seemingly emboldened to continue their horrific trade once released on bail. This raises serious questions about the bail system and the need for stricter measures when dealing with alleged child traffickers.
This case is a stark and painful reminder of the ongoing fight against child trafficking in Nigeria. It highlights the desperate need for vigilance, stronger enforcement, and a justice system that acts swiftly and decisively to protect children from those who would exploit them for profit. Our hearts go out to the victim and his family, and we can only hope that this time, justice will not only be served but will also prevent these alleged criminals from ever preying on another innocent child again.
