Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
A woman and her daughter have been arrested in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area, Anambra State, for attempting to sell two of their children.
The woman, Chinyere Chukwu, a mother of 11, and her daughter, Joy Chukwu, the mother of the two children, were arrested in Okija, Ihiala Local Government Area of the state where they reside.
Ikengaonline gathered that the arrest was made by the officials of the Anambra State ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare after the Commissioner, Hon Ify Obinabo, posed as a buyer for the children.
Media assistant to the commissioner, Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, in a statement, disclosed that the Commissioner got a tip off of Chukwu’s willingness to sell off the children.
According to her, the culprits after their arrest, confessed to officials of the ministry that the prevailing economic hardship in the country was the reason for their actions.
Ikeanyionwu said: “Chinyere explained that she had 11 kids and couldn’t cater for them, hence her decision.
“The suspect said that since they were boys that they were kept at the price of N1million each but after serious bargaining the commissioner opted to N1.8million for both children.
“She said she developed interest in selling the children after her neighbour successfully sold one of her kids. She said this was her first attempt at the business.”
Ikeanyionwu said the commissioner has ordered that the remaining children of the suspect be taken into state government’s custody for proper care while, while Chukwu’s neighbour would also be arrested for engaging in same business.
