Chinedum Treasure
Three suspected trafficking syndicates have been arrested by Anambra State Government in Ifitedunu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of the state.
The arrest was made through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare following notification from the Chairman of the community, Mr Arinzechukwu Azodo.
Azodo said he was alerted by the commander of his team over a report of suspected trafficking taking place in the community which he quickly alerted commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo.
He said the Commissioner had given him the go ahead to apprehend the persons involved.
“After the arrest, we discovered that the suspects were about sealing their deal to the tune of N1 million,” he added.
One of the suspects who gave her name as Ebere from Ukpo in same local government area of the state, confessed that she got to know about the deal through one of the suspects.
“A friend of mine, Temple Nwankwo had approached me one day, informing me that she has twin baby for sale although she has already sold one of the twins.
“I accepted to partner with her and went further to link her up to a prospective buyer who needed a male child urgently.
“After the negotiation, we agreed to meet at Oye Agu to further seal the transaction but instead Temple requested an instant payment of N1million in her account which the buyer objected to because he hasn’t seen the baby.
“This led to a sharp disagreement among us before Temple changed her mind and left them.”
On her part, the alleged seller, Temple Nwankwo from Enugu state but resident at Ifitedunu denied ever having to be in any type of business with Ebere.
She explained that she only reconnected with her when she was four months pregnant.
“It was Ebere who actually asked for my help in getting a male child because she’s not been able to have a child of her own.
Temple in her confession said, after Ebere made the request, she warned her to never involve her in such and that since that day, Ebere has been coming to her house in her absence meeting her daughter even after her several warnings to her.
It will interest you to know that, some members of the community alleged that Temple is into the Trafficking business with her husband Ndubuisi Nwankwo as an accomplice because they have not seen some of her children for a very long time.
When the couple were asked the whereabouts of the two kids, they claimed that they are dead but when asked about the people present when they were buried, they stated no one has ever been around to witness the burial of the two children.
Commissioner Obinabo, who was visibly sad over the incident, handed them over to the police for investigation and prosecution.
She reiterated government’s resolve in ending trafficking in the state and warned that anyone caught doing so won’t be spared.
She advised the public to always be vigilant and reach out to the ministry whenever they suspect any foul play within their neighborhood.
Other questions surrounding the death of the two children were not answered to the satisfaction of the Commissioner.