By Praise Chinecherem
Anambra State government has declared zero tolerance for human trafficking in the state, stating that it would no longer pamper its offenders.
The Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Hon Ify Obinabo dropped the warning in her office in Awka when six girls who usually rent their kids to traffickers came to plead for release of their children.
She warned that anyone caught engaging in such would not go scot free, stressing that the culprits would be used as scape goats to serve as deterrent to others and intending offenders.
The six young mothers included Ogochukwu Nwachukwu (20) from Ebonyi state, Christiana Ọkọn (21) from Calabar, Onyebuchi Orajiaka (20) from Okija, Uchenna Amadi (30) from Ebonyi, Juliet Ọkọn (28) from Ákwá Ibom and Mirable Edet (23) from Akwa Ibom.
The culprits, during interrogation, revealed that they were usually paid N10,000 and N20,000 every weekend depending on the number of children one rents, pleading not to engage in such illegal acts if pardoned.
It would be recalled that in May, 2022, eight children were rescued from a trafficker at Afọr Ukpor marker in Nnewi South local government area of the state when unknown gun men invaded the area.
During the incident, the yet to be identified trafficker reportedly left the children, within ages of 4 months to one year and fled before the kids were rescued by a social worker and brought to the office of the Commissioner for shelter.
