The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended Mr. Chinana Tali on charges of human trafficking and attempting to sell his six-year-old son for a staggering N20 million in Abuja. The NSCDC FCT Commandant, Mr. Olusola Odumosu, revealed this disconcerting incident to the press on Tuesday, highlighting the arrest at the point of sale after Tali was lured from Benue to Abuja.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), during the interrogation at the NSCDC FCT Command, Tali claimed that the victim, identified as Ushafa Tali, was indeed his six-year-old son. Shockingly, Tali, a father of six, justified his actions by citing financial hardship and the need to provide for his other children. “It is because of hardship and no money, so I need to find a way to train my other children,” Tali stated during questioning.
The NSCDC commandant explained the arrest, detailing that it followed an intelligence tip-off about Tali’s pursuit of the highest bidder for his child. The law enforcement officers orchestrated an operation where one of their own posed as a buyer, arranging a meeting at a garden. Tali, seemingly indifferent to the potential consequences for his child, traveled from Benue for the transaction.
Odumosu disclosed the disturbing details, saying, “To arrest his accomplice, we had to send transport fare to him after he was being deceived that the deal had been settled.” Tali, adamant about the value of his child, initially rejected an offer of N12 million and insisted on the sum of N20 million, referring to the boy with derogatory terms such as “he-goat.” Furthermore, he offered to sell his girl child, or “she-goat,” for N15 million if a buyer for the boy was not found.
Concerns about the paternity of the children arose during the investigation, with Tali claiming that his wife was unaware of the transaction. The NSCDC commandant emphasized the seriousness of child trafficking and warned against such intentions. He underscored the commitment of the Corps to protecting lives and property, pledging to take drastic measures to prevent crimes at their inception.
In a pivotal move, Odumosu handed over Tali, his son, and an accomplice to representatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and potential prosecution. Mrs. Chinyere Oseafiama, a NAPTIP Senior Intelligence Assistant, received the individuals and assured a thorough investigation, expressing gratitude for the NSCDC’s actions.
In a related development, Odumosu highlighted another arrest, stating that a young man was apprehended by the NSCDC for vandalizing armored cables along the Idu Railway Line in the territory. The suspect, found with tools used for digging out and cutting the cables, will be prosecuted according to the law as a deterrent to other potential vandals.
These incidents underscore the multifaceted challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in addressing not only heinous crimes like child trafficking but also crimes against critical infrastructure such as cable vandalism. The commitment of agencies like the NSCDC and NAPTIP is crucial in maintaining order, ensuring justice, and deterring individuals from engaging in illegal activities that pose a threat to society.
