David-Chyddy Eleke in Awka
Officials of the Anambra State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare have arrested a 38-year-old woman, Chinyere Chukwu, for attempting to sell two of her sons.
The mother of 11 children was arrested alongside her 17-year-old daughter, Joy Chukwu, who said the agreement was to sell the boys and use the proceeds to train the other children.
Chukwu was arrested after the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo, posed as a buyer for the two boys, after she got a hint of Chukwu’s willingness to sell off the children.
Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media assistant to the commissioner, who revealed this in a statement, said that the culprits, who confessed to officials of the ministry after their arrest, said the prevailing economic hardship in the country was the reason for their actions.
Ikeanyionwu said: “Chinyere explained that she had 11 children and couldn’t cater for them, hence her decision.
“The suspect said since they were boys that they were kept at the price of N1million each but after serious bargaining the commissioner opted to pay 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.”
THISDAY gathered that the suspect hails from Ozubulu but was arrested at Okija where she resides with her children.
Further probe showed that even though she had only two kids for her late husband, the suspect bore the other nine for her lovers after her husband’s demise.
Ikeanyionwu said the women affairs commissioner has ordered that the remaining children of the suspect be taken into state government’s custody for proper care while Chukwu’s neighbour, would also be arrested for engaging in same business, and the sold child traced.
