By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Ebonyi State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, on Monday, denied involvement/ connivance with other security agency in the state to cover up the sale of a newborn baby for twenty five million naria.

Ebonyi NSCDC Commandant, Mr. Francis Nnadi, through the Command's Public Relations Officer (PRO), ASCI, Emmanuella Ibeneme, made this known in a statement issued to newsmen in Abakaliki.

Nnadi was reacting to an alleged false publication by a media platform (not News Express) with the title, 'How police officers, NSCDC in Ebonyi allegedly connived to cover up sale of newborn baby for N25m'.

NSCDC boss, however, described the publication by the said media platform as falsehood, fake news and unverifiable allegation targeted at misinforming the general public in the country.

The statement reads in part: "The attention of the Nigeria security and civil defense corps, NSCDC, Ebonyi State command has been drawn to a misleading and malicious report by (name withheld) alleging the involvement of the Command's legal officer in aiding and abetting of a child trafficking/illegal adoption case involving one Miss Sussana Nwanneka Nweze in which she sold her baby.

"We wish to state clearly that the officer mentioned and the command has no connection whatsoever with the said allegation. The report is false, baseless and defamatory.

"The command on completion of its preliminary investigation has officially handed over the case to NAPTIP, a government agency that has the mandate to handle and prosecute such cases

"The command demands that the media house involved (name withheld) to issue and immediate retraction of the said report and a public apology within 48 hours.

"Failure to do so will attract legal action. We strongly caution the media house involved and others to always verify all facts before publication.

"Responsible journalism requires balanced reportage as the public shouldn't be fed with fake or unverified information.

"We remain committed to justice and the provision of the effective and efficient security services to the government and good people of Ebonyi State.?

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