A mother of 11 children, who claims she could not afford to cater for them, and opted to sell two of her boys for N2 million each, is in soup.
A hot one for that matter, because her would-be buyer turned out to be a government official saddled with the responsibility of protecting women and children rights: the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo.
Worse, the woman’s accomplice is her 17 years old daughter.
The government is also on the trail of her neighbour who taught her the business by selling her own child. Ibinabo announced that government has taken over the children to be sold and the remaining eight.
The suspects words: “I had only two kids before the death of my husband and had nine other children for other men. Ever since, it has been difficult to adequately care for and support them.
“This is my first attempt. I only developed interest in the business of selling children after my neighbour successfully sold one of her kids. I planned to do the business alongside my eldest daughter because the money will also be used to advance her tertiary education,.”
Ibinabo told journalists on Wednesday in Awka, the state capital, that the accused and her eldest daughter were arrested when she posed as a potential buyer of the boys after she got the hint of the transaction.
Said the state commissioner: “I heard about the transaction and decided to pose as a buyer. The suspect told me she would sell the boys at the sum of N2 million but after intense negotiations, she settled for N1.8million.
“The culprits stayed at Okija in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, but we lured them to Awka to seal the transaction and they were eventually arrested.
“The state government condemns this kind of act and will continue to intensify efforts to eradicate such crimes. The suspects will be handed over to the police and will be prosecuted accordingly.”
