By CHRISTIAN OGBONNA

Philomena Iroko, mother of the rescued sold 5-day-old baby boy in Ebonyi, has sought for help from individuals and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to enable her take care of the baby.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the baby boy, sold by his father, five days after his birth, was recovered by the Police from the buyer, Chinyere Ugochukwu, on Friday, Oct. 10.

The mother of three kids told NAN on Monday in Abakaliki that her live-in lover, Chukwuma Onwe, had threatened her before taking the child away from her.

According to Iroko, the man, who pretended to be my husband, lied to me after I gave birth to the boy, that he will give the child to his sister for adequate care.

“I didn’t know that the woman he gave the baby was buying him. It was after some days that I discovered that the father of my son collected money in exchange of my child.

“It was from that period that I raised the alarm and started crying until my baby was recovered with the intervention of the police on Friday.

“Though, we have not yet married and I don’t know what prompted my son’s father to sell him off.

“Onwe, the father of my child, has been arrested alongside with the buyer by the police. I am here alone, no one to assist me.

“Yes, I have another kids, two of them, but that from a different man, which I cannot trace his whereabouts. I have been living here with him (Onwe), with my two kids.

“Please, I need help, and assistance from the government, individuals and NGOs, so, that my son can live in good health,” Iroko begged.

SP Joshua Ukandu, Spokesman of the Police Command in Ebonyi, said that Onwe, the father of the child and the buyer are still in custody as they begin investigation. (NAN)