The Anambra State government has arrested a 38-year-old woman, who claimed to have 11 children, for attempting to sell her nine-year-old and seven-year-old sons for N1 million each.
Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ify Obinabo, told newsmen on Wednesday in Awka that the woman’s eldest daughter, a 17-year-old, was also arrested for being part of the scheme.
Obinabo said the accused and her eldest daughter were arrested when she (the commissioner) posed as a potential buyer of the boys after receiving a tip-off about the transaction.
“I heard about the transaction and decided to pose as a buyer. The suspect told me she would sell the boys for a total of N2 million but, after serious negotiations, she settled for N1.8 million.
“The culprits reside in Okija in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, but we lured them to Awka to seal the transaction, and they were eventually arrested.
“The state government condemns this kind of act and will continue to intensify efforts to eradicate such crimes.
“The suspects will be handed over to the police and prosecuted accordingly,’’ she said.
Answering questions from newsmen, the suspect, a native of Ozubulu in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra, said she decided to sell the two boys due to economic hardship.
She explained that she has 11 children but cannot afford to care for them, hence her decision.
“I had only two kids before the death of my husband and had the other nine children with other men. Since then, it has been difficult to adequately care for and support them.
“This is my first attempt. I only developed an interest in selling children after my neighbour successfully sold one of hers.
“I planned to do the business with my eldest daughter because the money will also be used to advance her tertiary education,’’ she said.
After the suspect responded to the questions, the commissioner ordered that her other children be taken into the state government’s custody for proper care.
Obinabo stated that plans were underway to arrest the suspect’s neighbour, after which contact tracing would follow to retrieve the child she sold.
(NAN)