The Akwa Ibom command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended 40-year-old Elisha Effiong for attempting to sell his two daughters for N700,000.

This is contained in a statement by the NSCDC spokesperson Ukeme Umana on Wednesday.

The NSCDC said the suspect was arrested through a tip-off by a private guard operative at Full Care Hospital on Ekpanya Street, Uyo while trying to sell his two children, aged four and six years.

“The Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has apprehended a man who attempted to sell his two children for N700,000 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom,” said the NSCDC statement. “The suspect, Mr Elisha Edet Effiong (M) 40 years, was apprehended at Full Care Hospital on Ekpanya Street, where he notified the security guard of his intention to sell his two children for N700 000 to pay off his debt and meet other financial challenges.”

The private security notified the NSCDC, and immediately the commandant in the state, Abidemi Majekodunmi, detailed personnel of the anti-human trafficking unit of the corps to swing into action, added the statement.

“The suspect was apprehended on November 15 at 13:15hours alongside his two daughters: Abasifreke Edet, six years old, and Rachael Edet, four years old,” the NSCDC statement. “The suspect who resides, according to him in Adidikim in Cameroon, confessed that the decision to sell the children was taken by him and his wife, who is still in Cameroon and was borne out of extreme hardship.”

The NSCDC added that preliminary investigations had been concluded, and the case would be transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for prosecution. 

(NAN)