The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Uyo Zonal Command has arrested four suspects for alleged child trafficking.
Nduka Nwanwenne, The agency’s zonal Commander, on Tuesday, listed the suspects as Eno Ime, 35; Ita Udofia, 45; Juliana Effiong, 40; and Nneka Ejekwu.
According to one of the suspects identified as, Ime, who already had eight children, was having difficulties with her ninth pregnancy and taking care of her children, and so decided to request help from her neighbor, Udofia.
Newsnaija gathered that Udofia was the one who introduced her to Effiong, a traditional birth attendant and a quasi-nurse based in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, who allegedly administered some drugs on her before she was able to deliver.
It was learned that Trouble began when she discovered that her baby later died and the sum of N250,000 was found in her bag.
The statement said, “One Mrs. Eno Ime, 35, a single mother of eight children, was facing a lot of problems taking care of her ninth month pregnancy and her children. The situation made her be in need and very unprotected.
It was at this point, that Mr. Ita Jacob Udofia, who is her neighbor, Mr. Ita Jacob Udofia, 45, who pretended to help her by introducing her to a woman aged 4o identified as Mrs. Juliana Effiong, who is a traditional birth attendant and quasi nurse based in Port Harcourt, now the prime suspect.
It was gathered the “The victim was sent some money through Mr. Udofia to come over to Port Harcourt to meet traditional birth attendant and quasi nurse.
It was learned getting to Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital the victim was given some drugs and was delivered of a baby. However, the victim was further induced by drugs that made her lose consciousness after delivery. When she regained consciousness she was told that she had lost the baby after birth.
“She said she saw the sum of N250,000 in her handbag but handed over the money to one man to help her retrieve her baby.”
The statement added that the suspect had already arranged to hand over the baby to one Mrs. Nneka Ejekwu, who had cryptic pregnancy.
The traditional birth attendant and quasi nurse were said to have been treating both Mr. and Mrs. Ejekwu with fertility drugs to enable her to conceive a baby.
“Having cornered the newborn baby, Mrs. Ejekwu, who had earlier parted with the sum of N1, 300,000, was invited by Juliana and induced into labour. By the time she came around, she was presented with a newborn baby of the victim as her baby.”
Uyo Zonal Command said the agency would not spare any effort to bust the entire syndicate.