In a commendable operation, operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) FCT Command apprehended Mr. Chinana Solomon Tali at the point of attempting to sell his eight-year-old son, Ushafa Tali, for a staggering N20 million.
Addressing the press, the NSCDC FCT Commandant, Mr. Olusola Odumosu, revealed that the arrest took place following an intelligence tip-off about the suspect’s intention to find the highest bidder for his child.
The Commandant explained, “We booked an appointment with the suspect at a garden where we had one of our men pose as a buyer while we had our men surround them. He came all the way from Benue to sell his supposed child to a buyer without caring about what might befall the child afterward.”
The father, initially demanding N12 million, insisted on selling the boy, whom he referred to as a “He-goat,” for N20 million. Disturbingly, he also offered to sell his daughter, referred to as a “She-goat,” for N15 million if the boy did not find a buyer.
While further investigations are needed to determine paternity and uncover more details, Tali claimed that his wife was unaware of the transaction.
The NSCDC Commandant reiterated the Corps’ commitment to ensuring the protection of lives and property, warning against engaging in such heinous acts. Tali, his son, and an accomplice were handed over to representatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for thorough investigation and potential prosecution.
Tali, during interrogation, cited financial hardship as the motive behind his actions, expressing the need to raise funds to support his large family.
NAPTIP Senior Intelligence Assistant, Mrs. Chinyere Oseafiama, praised the NSCDC’s intervention, assuring a thorough investigation and promising to provide a positive report regarding the case.
In a related incident, the NSCDC FCT Commandant also reported the arrest of a young man for vandalizing armored cables along the Idu Railway Line in the territory. The suspect, caught with tools for cable theft, will be prosecuted according to the law as a deterrent to others involved in such criminal activities.