NAPTIP arrests four suspected child traffickers in Akwa Ibom
The Uyo Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of
Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) said it has arrested four persons for
alleged child trafficking in Akwa Ibom State.
The Zonal Commander, Nduka Nwanwenne who revealed this in a press
statement on Tuesday said the prime suspect is a 40-year-old
traditional birth attendant and quasi nurse, one Mrs Juliana Effiong.
He said the nurse allegedly sold off the baby of one Mrs. Eno Ime, a
single mother of eight children after she was delivered of her ninth
child to Mrs. Nneka Ejekwu, who had a cryptic pregnancy.
He also explained that the suspect moved her victim from Uyo to Port
Harcourt through the aid of one Mr Ita Udofia, a neighbour of the
victim.
She allegedly put N250,000 in the handbag of the victim after the
victim was told that her baby had died, but collected N1.3 million
from Mrs Ejekwu for the newborn baby.
“One Mrs. Eno Ime (35) a single mother of eight (8) children was
apparently in difficulties of taking care of her full-blown ninth
pregnancy and her children. This situation made her very vulnerable
“At this point, her neighbour, Mr. Ita Jacob Udofia (45) pretended to
assist 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 with some drugs and was
delivered of a baby.
The victim was further induced with drugs that put her in a coma after
delivery. When she came around, she was informed that her baby was
dead.
“She said she saw the sum of two hundred and fifty thousand naira
(N250,000) in her handbag but handed over the money to one man to help
her retrieve her baby.
“Meanwhile, the suspect had arranged to hand over the baby to one Mrs.
Nneka Ejekwu, who had a cryptic pregnancy.
“Mrs.Juliana Effiong was said to have been treating both Mr and Mrs.
Ejekwu with fertility drugs to enable her conceive.
“Having cornered the newborn, Mrs Ejekwu, who had earlier parted with
the sum of one million and three hundred thousand, (N1,300,000) was
invited by Juliana and induced into labour. By the time she came
around, she was presented with a newborn of the victim as her baby,”
the statement read.
Meanwhile, the NAPTIP Commander has said no effort shall be spared to
burst the entire syndicate