In a shocking case of child trafficking in Akwa Ibom State, police recently uncovered a syndicate that was involved in the sale of a newborn for ₦800,000. The operation was thwarted when officers intercepted a car carrying the infant and arrested three individuals connected to the crime.
The story begins with Blessing Walter, a 20-year-old woman from Oti-Oro, Akwa Ibom, who found herself pregnant by a boyfriend who refused to take responsibility. Unable to afford proper care or even prenatal services, she lived in poverty, suffering the scorn of her peers. Her mother, Grace Walter, 55, overwhelmed by the shame and financial strain, reached out to a friend in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for assistance.
Her friend introduced her to a member of a child trafficking syndicate who took Blessing under their care until the baby was born. The traffickers provided the young girl with food, basic necessities, and comfort during her pregnancy. They then agreed to pay Grace Walter ₦800,000 in exchange for the baby after birth.
On the day the baby was born, the traffickers were prepared. A car, carrying two women and a driver, arrived to collect the child from a traditional birth attendant’s home. However, before the baby could be handed over, the Akwa Ibom State Police intercepted the vehicle along the Nsit Atai-Oron road.
Police spokesperson Timfon John confirmed that when the officers stopped the vehicle, they found a two-day-old baby in the possession of the two women and driver. The occupants could not provide a reasonable explanation for the infant, leading to their arrest. Further investigation revealed that the baby was part of an illegal transaction, with the Walters admitting they had sold the child for ₦800,000.
The investigation continued, and it was revealed that the women in the car had been sent from Port Harcourt by two other individuals, Waazor Godwin and Lilian Duru, to transport the baby. Alison Eduno, a third suspect, was arrested for facilitating the transaction.
As a result, the baby was placed under the care of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Welfare, while all suspects were taken into custody.
This case highlights a disturbing trend in the region, where human traffickers have exploited the widespread economic difficulties to deceive vulnerable individuals, particularly teenage mothers, into selling their children. This incident is one of several recent cases of child trafficking and abuse in southern Nigeria.
Two months ago, police in Akwa Ibom apprehended two women who sold a nine-year-old child. The police continue to combat this criminal activity, with Akwa Ibom’s Commissioner of Police, Baba Mohamed Azare, emphasizing that child trafficking is not a crime that can be excused by poverty. “Even a madwoman who gives birth will protect and care for her child,” Azare stated, stressing that those involved in such crimes would face the full consequences of the law.
The police investigation into these cases is ongoing, and the authorities are committed to eradicating human trafficking in the region.
