Woman sells 2 of her 11 children for N1.8m, says sons attract higher prices
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
A mother in Anambra has admitted to selling two of her 11 children for N1.8 million the keep the large family afloat as the current hardship up and down Nigeria makes it impossible for her to care for them all.
President Bola Tinubu, the harbinger of this latest hardship, is currently in far away Paris on a so-called private trip that is cover for medical treatment. He has been captured on camera watching football on television in the ongoing African Nations Championship.
Chinyere Chukwu, 38 – from Okija in Ihiala Council – blamed the “economic hardship in the country” for her decision to connive with her daughter, Joy, 17, to sell off her two sons before they were apprehended, as disclosed by the Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare.
Anambra Women and Social Welfare Commissioner Ify Obinabo led security operatives to arrest the suspects late on Tuesday, after she posed as a potential buyer of the children when information of the transaction got to the ministry.
Chukwu on interrogation confessed she has 11 children and decided to sell two when she could not cater to them.
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Sons on the market attract higher prices
“I have 11 kids and when I could not cater to them, I decided to sell two of them because of the economic hardship in the country.
“Since they are boys, the prices were kept at N1m each but after serious bargaining by the Commissioner, who posed as the buyer, we decided to sell them at N1.8m, instead of the initial N2m,” Chukwu said.
“I developed an interest in the business and decided to embark on such adventure after my neighbour successfully sold one of her kids. This was my first attempt at the business.
“I had only two kids for my husband and got the remaining nine children after my husband’s demise and ever since then, I have not been able to give them adequate care and support.”
Joy, the eldest child, explained the plan was to use the proceeds to fund her tertiary education.
Obinabo directed the remaining children be taken into government custody for proper care and vowed to apprehend Chukwu’s neighbour who sold her kid and for the child to be traced and retrieved.
She reiterated government resolve to eradicate crime and warned that anyone found engaging in criminal actity will be handed over to the police and prosecuted.
