Anambra State Government, through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, has transferred a couple and an accomplice to the police over allegations of human trafficking in Ifitedunu, Dunukofia Local Government Area.
This development was announced in a Facebook statement by Chidinma Ikeanyionwu, the media aide to Women Affairs Commissioner Ify Obinabo, on Tuesday.
The incident came to light when community chairman Mr. Arinzechukwu Azodo alerted Commissioner Obinabo about a suspected trafficking operation.
Mr. Azodo reported that his team commander had received information about suspicious activities in the community, prompting the commissioner to order the arrest of the suspects.
Upon their apprehension, it was revealed that the suspects were on the verge of finalizing a deal worth one million naira. One suspect, Ebere, confessed to being approached by another suspect, Temple Nwankwo, who offered to sell her twin baby.
Ebere admitted to collaborating with Temple and connecting her to a potential buyer. However, Temple denied any involvement in the transaction.
“Ebere said she accepted to partner with her and went further to link her up to a prospective buyer who needed a male child urgently.
Ebere in her confession said that after their negotiation, they agreed to meet at Oye Agu to further seal the transaction but instead, Temple requested an instant payment of one million naira in her account which the buyer objected to because he hadn’t seen the baby in question which brought disagreement among them before Temple changed her mind and left them,” the statement detailed.
Temple, originally from Enugu State but residing in Ifitedunu, claimed she had no business dealings with Ebere and only reconnected with her during her pregnancy. According to Temple, Ebere requested assistance in obtaining a male child, a request she refused, warning Ebere to exclude her from such matters. Despite this, Ebere reportedly continued visiting Temple’s house in her absence.
Further investigations revealed community suspicions about Temple and her husband, Ndubuisi Nwankwo, being involved in human trafficking. When questioned about the whereabouts of their two children, the couple claimed the children had died, but their explanations lacked witnesses and raised doubts.
“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 were 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,” the statement added.
Visibly distressed by the revelations, Commissioner Obinabo handed the suspects over to the police for thorough investigation and prosecution. She reiterated the state government’s commitment to eradicating human trafficking and urged the public to remain vigilant, reporting any suspicious activities to the ministry.
