LAGOS—A 28-year-old man recounted how he convinced his wife to sell their two-year-old baby to raise money for him to travel abroad.
Uchenna Eziekwe, a labourer, and his wife, Chineye, 22, were apprehended at the Isolo General Hospital in Lagos while inquiring about selling their baby boy. The arrest, carried out on July 9, 2024, was announced by Lagos State Police Command spokesman, Benjamin Hudenyin.
Hudenyin explained, “At about 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Isolo Police Station received information that a couple had visited the Isolo General Hospital with the intention of selling their baby boy. Officers swiftly moved to the hospital, where they found Uchenna and Chineye Eziekwe attempting to sell their child. The baby was rescued, and upon interrogation, the couple admitted they planned to sell the baby to fund the husband’s travel to Canada for better opportunities. An investigation is ongoing.”
Speaking to journalists, Uchenna Eziekwe took responsibility for the decision, citing economic hardship as the driving factor. He said, “It was a difficult decision, but we had no choice but to sell our baby. We felt it would be better to sell him to someone who could take care of him than to let him die of hunger. I suggested the idea and convinced my wife. We had to do it because of hardship. I am a labourer, I go to construction sites to look for work while my wife does nothing. Like I said, it was a hard decision.”
The couple’s plan has sparked outrage and highlighted the severe economic challenges faced by many families in the country. The investigation into their case continues.
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