NSCDC arrests man for attempting to sell own daughters for N700,000
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Akwa Ibom Command has apprehended a 40-year-old man, Elisha Effiong, for attempting to sell his two daughters for N700, 000.
Mr Ukeme Umana, the command spokesman, who made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Uyo.
He said that the suspect had confessed to the crime saying that he was compelled to do so due to poverty.
According to the NSCDC spokesman, the suspect was arrested following a tip-off by a private guard in a hospital in Uyo, who the suspect had contacted to find a buyer of the children.
The statement reads: “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.
“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 State Commandant, Abidemi Majekodunmi, detailed personnel of the anti-human trafficking unit of the corps to swing into action.
“The suspect was apprehended on November 15 at 13:15 hours alongside his two daughters: Abasifreke Edet 6 years old and Rachael Edet, 4 years old.
“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,” Mr Umana said.
Umana added that investigations had been concluded and the case would be transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
