Couple and accomplice arrested for alleged human trafficking in Anambra

The Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Women and Social Protection, has handed over to the police a couple and an accomplice for alleged human trafficking at Ifitedunu in the government area Dunukofia local of the state.

This was made known in a Facebook statement by the Media Assistant to the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Chidinma Ikeanyionwu on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the arrest was made possible after the Chairman of the community, Mr. Arinzechukwu Azodo, informed the Commissioner for Women Affairs, Ify Obinabo, about an alleged incident of trafficking in the community.

According to Mr Azodo, he was alerted by his team commander to a report of alleged trafficking taking place in the community and quickly informed the commissioner, who ordered him to arrest the suspects.

Upon their arrest, it was gathered that the suspects were about to make a deal worth one million naira.

One of the suspects, Ebere, admitted to having been approached by another suspect, Temple Nwankwo, who offered to sell her twin.

Ebere said she agreed to partner with Temple and put her in touch with a potential buyer. However, Temple has denied any involvement in the alleged transaction.

The statement said: “Ebere said she agreed to partner with her and went further by connecting her with a potential buyer who was in dire need of a male child. Ebere in his confession said that after their negotiation, they agreed to meet at Oye Agu to further seal the deal, but instead, Temple demanded an instant payment of one million naira into his account, which which the buyer objected to because he had not seen the baby. in question, which caused a disagreement between them before Temple changed his mind and left them.

“On the side of the alleged seller, Temple Nwankwo from Enugu State but residing in Ifitedunu, she denied ever having dealings with Ebere, but explained that she only got back in touch with her when she was pregnant four months. Temple, in her defense, said it was Ebere who asked her to help her have a male child because she had been unable to have her own child.

“Temple, in her confession, said that after Ebere made the request, she warned her never to involve him in such activities and that since that day, Ebere would come to her house in her absence to meet his daughter, even after several warnings.

Investigation revealed that Temple had been accused of human trafficking by some members of the community, who claimed that she and her husband, Ndubuisi Nwankwo, were involved in the matter. When asked about the fate of her two children, Temple claimed they were dead, but her story aroused suspicion.

The statement added: “It will interest you to know that some members of the community alleged that Temple was engaged in trafficking with her husband Ndubuisi Nwankwo as an accomplice because they had not seen some of her children for a very long time.

“When the couple was asked where the two children were, they claimed they were dead, but when asked who was present at their burial, they said no one had ever was present to attend the funeral of the two children.

“It was at this point that the honorable Anambra Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Obinabo, visibly saddened by the incident, handed them over to the police for investigation and prosecution.”

The Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Obinabo, handed over the suspects to the police for investigation and prosecution, reiterating the state government’s commitment to ending human trafficking.

She urged the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the ministry.