Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare has apprehended three suspected trafficking syndicates in Ifitedunu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state.
This was achieved when the Chairman of the community, Mr Arinzechukwu Azodo, notified the Women Affairs Commissioner, Honourable Ify Obinabo.
According to Mr Azodo, he said he was alerted by the commander of his team over a report of suspected trafficking taking place in the community which he quickly informed the commissioner who told him to go ahead and apprehend the persons involved.
He explained that after the arrest, they discovered that the said suspects were about sealing their deal to the tune of one million naira.
On her part, one of the suspects who gave her name as Ebere from Ukpo in same local government area of the state, revealed that it was another of the suspect by name Temple Nwankwo her very good friend that approached her one day informing her that she has twin baby for sale although she has already sold one of the twins.
Ebere said she accepted to partner with her and went further to link her up to a prospective buyer who needed a male child urgently.
Ebere in her confession said that after their negotiation, they agreed to meet at Oye Agu to further seal the transaction but instead Temple requested an instant payment of one million naira in her account which the buyer objected to because he hasn’t seen the baby in question which brought disagreement among them before Temple changed her mind and left them.
On the alleged seller’s part, Temple Nwankwo from Enugu state but resident at Ifitedunu, she denied ever having to be in any type of business with Ebere but explained that she only reconnected with her when she was four months pregnant. Temple in her defense said it was Ebere who actually asked for her help in getting a male child because she’s not been able to have a child of her own.
Temple in her confession said, after Ebere made the request, she warned her to never involve her in such and that since that day, Ebere has been coming to her house in her absence meeting her daughter even after her several warnings to her.
It will interest you to know that, some members of the community alleged that Temple is into the Trafficking business with her husband Ndubuisi Nwankwo as an accomplice because they have not seen some of her children for a very long time.
When the couple were asked the whereabouts of the two kids, they claimed that they are dead but when asked about the people present when they were buried, they stated no one has ever been around to witness the burial of the two children.
It was at this point that the Honourable Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare Anambra, Hon Obinabo, who was visibly sad over the incident, handed them over to the police for investigation and prosecution.
Hon Obinabo reiterated that the state government’s resolve in ending trafficking in the state and warmed that anyone caught doing so won’t be spared.
The Women Affairs boss further advised members of the public to always be vigilant and reach out to the ministry whenever they suspect any fishy thing around.
Other questions regarding the death of the two children were not answered to the satisfaction of the Honourable Commissioner.
