Anambra Government Apprehends Woman for Selling Grandchild for N50,000

The Anambra State government has successfully apprehended a woman, Oluchukwu Nwosu, aged 45, for the alleged sale of her three-month-old grandchild for a meager sum of N50,000.

The Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, made this distressing announcement during a press briefing held in Awka on Sunday. Ms. Obinabo disclosed that the rescue operation was the result of consistent intelligence reports and surveillance efforts spanning nearly a month.

During her briefing, the commissioner highlighted that four individuals had been arrested in connection with this heinous crime and would subsequently be handed over to the police for a comprehensive investigation.

The operation was initiated following a report filed by Ijeoma Nwosu, who claimed that her mother, Oluchukwu, had forcibly sold her baby shortly after birth and refused to divulge any information about the child’s whereabouts. It was observed that the baby appeared sick and severely underweight.

The buyer, who was identified as Evelyn Egwuatu, disclosed that she had paid N200,000 to acquire the baby from one Ebelechukwu Uba, a resident of Anambra originally from Ebonyi. Mr. Uba stated that he had merely acted as a middleman and that the sale of the baby to Ms. Egwuatu was a decision made by Mr. Asiegbu and Ms. Oluchukwu.

Ms. Oluchukwu, during her interaction with reporters, pleaded for forgiveness, explaining that her actions were driven by the dire economic circumstances she and her daughter faced. She cited financial hardship as the main reason for her involvement in this criminal act, as they were unable to provide for their family.

Mr. Asiegbu, who played a role in facilitating the sale, admitted to a profit of N30,000 from the transaction and clarified that he had connected Ms. Oluchukwu to the buyer.

Commissioner Ify Obinabo expressed her strong disapproval of the ongoing illegal adoption practices within the state, despite the government’s continued efforts to eliminate them. She issued a stern warning that those involved in unlawful adoptions would face legal consequences.

This incident has once again highlighted the importance of addressing child trafficking and illegal adoption in Anambra State, calling for greater vigilance and preventative measures to protect vulnerable children.