By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare has uncovered another child-trafficking case involving a self-acclaimed church minister and two other persons accused of facilitating the illegal sale of a baby in the state.
This was disclosed in a statement from the office of the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Mrs. Chinyere Esther Onyekesi, who said the discovery was made with the assistance of operatives of the Special Anti-Touting Squad Agency (SASA).
According to the Commissioner, preliminary findings revealed that the infant, who was born by a young woman from Ukpor in Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state, was allegedly sold for the sum of ₦2.5 million.
She explained that the biological mother reportedly received ₦300,000 from the transaction, while the remaining balance was allegedly retained by the prime suspect, identified as Mrs. Uchenna Precious.
According to the statement, the suspect had earlier provided accommodation for the young mother after she was allegedly rejected by her family members during the pregnancy. However, rather than informing the relevant authorities, she was accused of arranging the sale of the child to her sister for two million, five hundred thousand naira (₦2.5 million) after a series of price bargaining before it ended at that amount.
The Commissioner further explained that the baby was eventually handed over to the woman who allegedly bought the child with the intention of adopting him through the illegal process.
Condemning the act, Commissioner Onyekesi maintained that no individual has the authority to transfer the custody of a child through private arrangements without the involvement of the appropriate government agencies and law enforcement authorities.
According to her, matters relating to adoption, child custody and child welfare must always be handled in accordance with established legal procedures.
Meanwhile, videos currently circulating on social media showed the suspects being interrogated at the commissioner’s office in Awka over the week.
During the interrogation, the prime suspect, who was described as a self-acclaimed minister of the gospel, Mrs. Precious, claimed that her actions were motivated by a desire to assist the child’s mother, who, according to her, was experiencing difficult circumstances.
She, however, could not justify why she gave the mother of the child only ₦300,000 from ₦2.5 million made from the sale of the baby and kept the remaining balance to herself.
Mrs. Onyekesi reiterated the Governor Chukwuma Soludo-led government’s commitment to combating child trafficking and other forms of child exploitation, warning that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
She also commended the Special Anti-Touting Squad Agency for its intervention, which ultimately led to the discovery of the alleged crime.
The commissioner confirmed that the principal suspect, the woman who received the baby and the child’s biological mother had all been handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution.
While reiterating the Ministry’s stand against any form of child trafficking in Anambra State, Commissioner Onyekesi also appealed to members of the public to promptly report suspicious activities involving children to the appropriate authorities rather than attempting to resolve such matters privately.
As of the time of filing this report, police authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the matter.
Watch the video below:
