Anambra mother of 11 arrested trying to sell sons for N1.8m

Through the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare, the Anambra State Government has detained Chinyere Chukwu, 38, for allegedly trying to sell her two sons.

According to reports, Chukwu, a resident of Okija in the state's Ihiala Local Government Area, conspired with her 17-year-old daughter Joy to sell off her two sons "due to the economic hardship in the country."

Chukwu revealed during questioning that she had 11 children and chose to sell two of them because she was unable to care for them.

After assuming the role of buyers for the children, the suspects were apprehended late on Tuesday by state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare Ify Obinabo and a few security personnel got to the ministry.
"I have eleven kids, and when I couldn't support them, I decided to sell two of them," the woman stated. The commissioner, who pretended to be the buyer, successfully negotiated for us to sell them for N1.8 million instead of the original N2 million, even though the prices were set at N1 million each because they are boys.

"After my neighbour successfully sold one of her children, I became interested in the industry and made the decision to go on such an adventure. I had only two children for my husband; I inherited the other nine after his death, and I haven't been able to provide them with the proper care and support ever since. This was my first attempt at running the business.

The eldest child among the eleven, her 17-year-old daughter, also spoke and mentioned that the money raised would be used to further her higher education.

In response to the development, Obinabo ordered that the suspect's remaining children be placed under the state government's care for appropriate treatment. He also promised to find the woman's neighbour, who had sold her child for cash.
The commissioner further ordered that contact tracing of the child would ensue in order to retrieve the child following the arrest of the neighbour.

Obinabo pledged that the state government would not relent in its efforts to end criminal activity and issued a warning that anyone caught doing so would be turned over to the police and faced with legal action.