A man identified as Sunday Onome has confessed to selling his friend’s young son for N1.3 million as part of an alleged child trafficking operation.

The suspect, from Ebonyi State, made the shocking admission while being questioned by a special police team in Anambra State. His arrest along with his girlfriend and son has exposed what investigators believe is a wider network involved in buying and selling children.

Onome reportedly turned to trafficking after losing his job as a private driver. He claimed he was introduced to the syndicate and later involved his girlfriend in carrying out assignments.

The first major deal he admitted to was handing over his close friend’s child, an act that earned him the largest single payment and encouraged him to continue in the illegal business.

According to his statements, he received another N2.3 million for transporting two other children, bringing his total earnings to N3.6 million from two operations. The group reportedly communicated mostly by phone and made payments through bank transfers to avoid direct contact. Onome also admitted using his own son to help move the children to agreed locations before handing them over to other members.

Security operatives tracked the suspects to a hotel in Onitsha where they were waiting with two children when the arrest was made. The children were rescued before they could be passed on to the next link in the chain. Police say investigations are ongoing to track down other members of the syndicate and verify all claims made by the suspect.

Child trafficking remains a serious problem in parts of Nigeria, preying on vulnerable families and destroying young lives. Cases like this one highlight the need for stronger community awareness and faster security responses to protect children. As the matter proceeds, many hope for justice that will serve as a deterrent to others involved in such heartless crimes.

Photo credit: The Nation Nigeria