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 grandsons for 1. 8 million naira.
The mother of 11 children was arrested alongside her 17-year-old daughter, Joy Chukwu, who is the mother of the boys.
Chukwu was arrested after the commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo posed as a buyer for the children, 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 said in a press release 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 kids and couldn’t cater for them, hence her decision.
“The suspect said that since they were boys they were kept at the price of N1 million each but after serious bargaining, the commissioner opted for N1.8 million for both children.
“She said she developed an interest in selling the children after her neighbour successfully sold one of her kids. She said this was her first attempt at the business.”
Tribune Online gathered that the suspect hails from Ozubulu, in the Ekwusigo local government area of the state, 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 the state government’s custody for proper care, while Chukwu’s neighbour would also be arrested for engaging in the same business.
