Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the FCT have arrested a man, China Telpesa Solomon Tali, while allegedly trying to sell his eight-year-old son for N20m.
Parading the suspect, the FCT Commandant of NSCDC, Olusola Odumosu, said the 42-year-old man was tracked and arrested by his personnel on January 10, 2024.
He said the man engaged the services of one Pius Aondoakaa (also arrested) to find a buyer for the child; the fourth of his six children.
He explained that, “The FCT commands’ ardent and astute intelligence personnel in their proactive engagements in January, 2024, intercepted a father who conspired with another to trade an eight-year-old boy who he claimed to be his child for the sum of N20m in the FCT.
“Following a tip off, the suspects were immediately placed under surveillance. One of the suspects, Pius Aondoakaa, in a quest for a higher bid, rejected the sum of N12m and was looking for N20m for a ‘he-goat’.
“He also offered a ‘she-goat’ (girl) for N15m. Pius claimed to have a boy for sale and that the father of the boy wanted to use the proceeds to take care of his other children.
“In view of this, the acclaimed father of the boy, Mr China Telpesa Solomon Tali, was lured to Abuja on the 10th of January, 2024, by the FCT intelligence personnel who posed as buyers and agreed on the terms to buy and pay the sum of N20m.”
While speaking with City & Crime, Tali said he decided to sell his son to get money to feed his other children; blaming hardship for his crime.
The suspects, both from Logo LGA of Benue State, were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
