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A shocking case of child trafficking, disguised as legitimate case of child adoption, has been uncovered in Imo State, leading to the arrest of an orphanage operator and the rescue of a baby boy.
The scheme began in March when Mercy Okoro, 21, pregnant and in distress after her partner, Sunday Michael, was arrest d and detained.
She was allegedly approached by Madam Charity Uzoka, operator of the ‘Care of the Child Orphanage’. Uzoka reportedly offered Mercy ₦1.5 million for her unborn child, promising her a fresh start.
After giving birth to a healthy boy on June 20, Mercy was taken to Uzoka’s orphanage. Her son was taken from her, and she was told to tell her partner that their baby was a girl-child, but died and was buried.
The lie unraveled when vigilant neighbors who saw through the deception alerted the police. An investigation revealed the baby boy was alive and had been processed through an illegal adoption network. A report by the civil society group, Sisters With A Goal Initiative (SWAG) suggested the orphanage used collaborators in government agencies to create false documents for the child.
Uzoka was arrested on October 31. While in custody, she was largely uncooperative and failed to produce legitimate adoption documents. She was later granted bail by a Magistrate Court after filing a lawsuit praying the court to be admitted to bail.
In a positive turn, the court ordered the immediate return of the baby, who was traced to Awka. The infant has since been rescued and reunited with his biological parents.
The case has been adjourned to December 2, 2025, as advocates call for a full audit of the orphanage and stricter oversight to prevent such crimes.
