The Anambra State Government has arrested a 38-year-old woman for attempting to sell her nine-year-old and seven-year-old sons for N1 million each.

Commissioner for Women and Social  Welfare, Ify Obinabo, told journalists on Wednesday in Awka that the woman’s eldest daughter, a 17-year-old, was also arrested for being part of the scheme.

Mrs Obinabo said the accused and her eldest daughter were arrested when she (the commissioner) posed as a potential buyer of the boys after she got the hint of the transaction.

“I heard about the transaction and decided to pose as a buyer. The suspect told me she would sell the boys at the sum of N2 million but after intense negotiations, she settled for N1.8million.

“The culprits stayed at Okija in the Ihiala Local Government Area of the state, but we lured them to Awka to seal the transaction and they were eventually arrested.

“The state government condemns this kind of act and will continue to intensify efforts to eradicate such crimes. The suspects will be handed over to the police and will be prosecuted accordingly,’’ she said.

Fielding questions from journalists, the suspect, an indigene of Ozubulu in the Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra, said she decided to sell the two boys because of economic hardship.

She said she has 11 children, but could not afford to cater for them, hence her decision.

“I had only two kids before the death of my husband and had nine other children for other men. Ever since, it has been difficult to adequately care for and support them.

“This is my first attempt. I only developed interest in the business of selling children after my neighbour successfully sold one of her kids. I planned to do the business alongside my eldest daughter because the money will also be used to advance her tertiary education,’’ she said.

The commissioner ordered that her other children be taken into the state government’s custody for proper care.

Mrs Obinabo said that plans were underway to arrest the suspect’s neighbour after which contact tracing would follow to retrieve the child she sold.

(NAN)