A 43-year-old senior nurse with Federal Medical Centre, Katsina is among four suspects now in Katsina police net in connection with the alleged sale of a four-month-old boy. The nurse, Ogugua Okoh, is being detained with the 18-year old mother of the boy, who is alleged to be a prostitute. She resides in Daki Tara Quarters, Katsina.  Other suspects in the police net are Hauwau Ibrahim, 32, of Kofar Kaura, Katsina and Mrs. Grace Ohuhu of Uba-Kala town, Abia State.

The state Police Commissioner, Usman Abdullahi, confirmed the development in Katsina on Monday and told journalists that investigation on the incident was still ongoing. According to police sources, the four suspects are being detained for criminal conspiracy and human trafficking. The police sources said early this year, Aisha was delivered of a baby at the FMC with the assistance of the nurse.  Aisha was allegedly told that she gave birth to a dead baby and that the corpse had been disposed off.

It was further learnt that Aisha later learnt that her baby was delivered alive and had been sold for N200,000.00, out of which fifty thousand naira was supposed to be given to her. She reportedly stormed the hospital and threatened the nurse to produce her baby for her. Police were later called in when the nurse could not give satisfactory account of the incident. Police investigation later led to the arrest of Mrs. Grace Ohuhu who allegedly bought the baby and Hauwau Ibrahim who introduced Aishat to the nurse.

The boy who had been named Victor was equally recovered from Mrs. Ohuhu.

Mrs. Ohuhu, in an interview with journalists, denied buying the baby, maintaining that the N50,000.00 she gave to the nurse was meant for the upkeep of Aisha who, she said, appeared emaciated then. The nurse, Ogugua Okoh, said Victor was in her custody for over one month before Mrs. Ohuhu was introduced to her by one Joy Ihenamere, now at large.

The Punch