Anambra State Government through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare has arrested a couple and one other for suspected human trafficking in Ifitedunu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state.
The feat was achieved when the community Chairman, Mr Arinzechukwu Azodo, notified the Women Affairs Commissioner, Hon. Ify Obinabo.
The media aide to the Women Affairs Commissioner, Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, who disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, said the couple, Temple and Ndubuisi Nwankwo were arrested alongside one Ebere while attempting to sell their baby daughter for N1m.
The couple is suspected to have sold their other two other children who they claimed have died.
“According to Mr. Azodo, 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,” the statement read.
“Azodo 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 hadn’t seen the baby in question.
“This 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, 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 claimed that 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.
“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 were dead.
“However, when they were asked where the children were buried, they stated no one had ever been around to witness the burial of the two kids.
“It was at this point that Hon Obinabo, who was visibly sad over the incident, handed them over to the police for investigation and prosecution.”
The Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Obinabo, handed the suspects over to the police for investigation and prosecution, reiterating the state government’s commitment to ending human trafficking.
She urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the ministry.
