The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ebonyi State Command, has handed over the case of Ms. Susannah Nwanneka Nweze — a woman whose newborn was allegedly sold for ₦25 million — to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
This action followed a formal petition from the family of Nweze Philip Obasi in Ohaozara Local Government Area. The petition accused four security officers — three from the Nigeria Police Force and one from the NSCDC — of involvement in conspiracy, abduction, child trafficking, unlawful arrest, and obstruction of justice.
The officers named in the petition are SP Loveth Uche, W/Inspector Maureen Otum, Inspector Valentine Akam, and Mrs. Nneka Akam, the NSCDC’s legal officer in Ebonyi State.
According to the petition, Ms. Nweze was abducted and taken to a police clinic in Abakaliki, where she gave birth. Her newborn son was allegedly trafficked for ₦25 million, with the mother reportedly receiving ₦700,000 and being threatened to remain silent.
After her detention by the NSCDC, Ms. Nweze is said to have made a confession implicating the security officers. However, the legal officer in charge allegedly destroyed her original statement and replaced it with a new version to conceal the incident.
Additional reports suggested that attempts were made by one of the implicated officers to obtain official documents from the Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs to legitimize the alleged sale and mask the crime.
In response, the NSCDC stated that it conducted a preliminary investigation and found sufficient grounds to transfer the case to NAPTIP, which is legally responsible for prosecuting human trafficking cases. The agency denied involvement of its personnel in wrongdoing and reaffirmed its commitment to justice and public trust.
The transfer of the case to NAPTIP is viewed as a step toward ensuring full accountability and legal action against those involved. The case has intensified public concern over human trafficking and abuse of power by law enforcement in Nigeria, particularly the exploitation of vulnerable women and children