A middle-aged woman, Oluchukwu Nwosu has blamed economic hardship for her alleged selling of her daughter’s 3-month-old baby in Nnewi, Anambra State.
She said the daughter, who had earlier given birth to two babies, had abandoned the babies for her to take care of.
She said she sold the baby for N50,000, saying the other two sons were being cared for by 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 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 was 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, 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 her mother, forcefully sold her baby soon after he was born and had since refused to disclose his whereabouts.
She added that those involved in the act had all been nabbed and handed over to the police for questioning, 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.”
Obinabo regretted the growing rate of illegal adoption of children despite government’s efforts to put an end to such nefarious activities.
She warned that anyone found involved in any form of unlawful adoption must face legal action.