Four Arrested In Akwa Ibom For Child Trafficking
By Emmanuel Awosika
The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons, Uyo Zonal Command, has arrested four individuals suspected of child trafficking.
Nduka Nwanwenne, head of the Uyo Zonal Command of NAPTIP said this on Tuesday while parading the suspects identified as Eno Ime; Ita Udofia; Juliana Effiong; and Nneka Ejekwu.
The Zonal Commander said Eno Ime, a mother of eight, was experiencing difficulty with her ninth pregnancy and sought assistance from her neighbor, identified as Ita Udofia.
Reportedly, Udofia had introduced Ime to a traditional midwife and quasi-professional nurse in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, who gave her some medicine to use before she could conceive.
However, things took an unexpected turn when she was told her baby had died. Shortly afterwards, she had found N250,000 in her handbag.
The statement said, “One Mrs Eno Ime, 35, a single mother of eight children, was apparently having difficulties taking care of her full blown ninth pregnancy and her children. The situation made her to be in need and very vulnerable.
“At this point, her neighbour, Mr Ita Jacob Udofia, 45, who pretended to assist her by introducing her to one Mrs Juliana Effiong, 40, the prime suspect who is a traditional birth attendant and quasi nurse based in Port Harcourt.
“The victim was sent some money through Mr Udofia to come over to Port Harcourt to meet the prime suspect.
“In Port Harcourt, the victim was administered some drugs and was delivered of a baby. The victim was further induced with drugs that made her to lose consciousness after delivery. When, however, she came around, she was informed that her baby was dead.
“She said she saw the sum of N250,000 in her handbag but handed over the money to one man to help her retrieve her baby.”
It continued, saying; “Meanwhile, the suspect had arranged to hand over the baby to one Mrs Nneka Ejekwu, who had cryptic pregnancy. Mrs Juliana Effiong was said to have been treating both Mr and Mrs Ejekwu with fertility drugs to enable her conceive a baby.
“Having cornered the newborn baby, Mrs Ejekwu, who had earlier parted with the sum of N1,300,000, was invited by Juliana and induced into labour. By the time she came around, she was presented with a newborn baby of the victim as her baby.”
In his remarks, the Zonal Commander emphasized that the agency was fully prepared to break up the entire child trafficking ring.
