… as Anambra Women Affairs Commissioner, Obinabo, warns against illegal adoption
A middle-aged woman, Oluchukwu Nwosu, has explained that economic hardship forced her into selling of her daughter’s 3-month-old baby in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The woman, who said she is 49yr-old, explained that her daughter had earlier given birth to two babies, and abandoned them for her to take care of.
She said she sold the baby for N50,000, adding that the other two sons were being cared for at the state community children’s home in Awka.
She however pleaded for forgiveness, sobbing profusely.
She said, “This is the third time my daughter Ijeoma has conceived outside of marriage.
“Due to our poor income and lack of childcare, we’ve had trouble feeding right from the time my daughter gave birth to the first baby.
“We had no other option than to take the kids to motherless babies home, especially when our daughter refused to tell us who’s responsible for her pregnancy.
“I came across a buyer, one Tochukwu Asiegbu, who approached me, after bargaining, paid me the agreed sum.”
Confirming the incident, the Anambra State Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, said the 3-month-old baby sold by the grandmother has been rescued.
She said the rescue followed report by mother of the baby, Ijeoma Nwosu, who claimed that her mother, forcefully sold her baby soon after he was born, and refused to disclose the child’s whereabouts.
She added that those involved in the act have all been arrested and handed over to the police for further investigation and prosecution.
She said, “Following receipt of the allegation, I quickly swung into action to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
“After barely one month of consistent intelligence surveillance by officials in the Ministry, the offenders were caught.”
The Women Affairs Commissioner Obinabo, who regretted growing rate of illegal adoption of children in the state despite government’s efforts to put an end to such nefarious activities, warned that anyone found involved in any form of unlawful adoption must face legal action.
