Woman accused of selling newborn for ₦2.5 million, gave mother ₦300,000, Official

The Anambra State Government has found a case of child trafficking. A woman who claims to be a woman of God allegedly sold a newborn for ₦2.5 million and gave the baby's mother ₦300,000.

Chinyere Onyekesi, the Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare in Anambra State, shared this information in a statement on the ministry's official Facebook page on Wednesday.

Onyekesi said the woman, Precious Uchenna, had taken in the young mother after her family turned her away. The commissioner added that instead of reporting the young mother's situation to the right authorities, Uche began to negotiate the sale of the baby to her sister without informing the ministry or the Nigeria Police Force.

She condemned the act, saying that no matter what kind of consent or agreement was made, selling or transferring a child outside the law is illegal. Onyekesi emphasized that issues concerning child welfare, adoption, and custody need to follow proper legal procedures.

"What we have here is a case of child trafficking," she told the suspect in a video clip that accompanied her statement. In the clip, Uche admitted to giving the young mother ₦300,000 from the ₦2.5 million she made from selling the baby.

When asked why she kept the rest of the money, she did not respond. The commissioner then informed both Uche and the buyer, who was also present, that they would be handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.

Onyekesi praised the Special Anti-Touting Squad for Anambra State for their swift action, which helped uncover this case. This squad is a vigilante group set up by the state government.

The commissioner assured Anambra residents that her ministry is committed to protecting children. She urged people to report any suspected cases of child trafficking, illegal adoption, or child exploitation to the ministry or security agencies instead of trying to handle such issues privately.

In 2015, Nigeria passed the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act. This law bans all forms of human trafficking in the country. It states that anyone involved in child trafficking can face at least five years in prison and a fine of ₦1 million, depending on the reasons for trafficking.

Many people have been convicted of child trafficking in Nigeria. In July 2021, the Kano State High Court sentenced a man named Paul Owne to 91 years in prison for kidnapping and trafficking children to sell in Onitsha, Anambra State.

In 2019, a Federal High Court in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, sentenced three people to a total of 12 years in prison for trafficking a two-year-old boy and another child.