Akwa Ibom State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has arrested a 40-year-old man, Elisha Effiong, for allegedly conniving with his wife to sell their two daughters for N700, 000 to pay off his debt and meet other financial challenges.
It was gathered that Effiong, who lives in Cameroon with his wife, was arrested in Uyo on November 15, through an intelligence report while trying to sell their daughters aged 6 and 4 respectively.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, Umana Ukeme said that the suspects wanted to sell their children – Abasifreke Edet and Rachael Edet – due to extreme hardship.
However, Effiong was apprehended by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the NSCDC following a tip-off by a private security guard at Full Care Hospital on Ekpanya Street in Uyo, whom he had confided with his plans.
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, Elisha Edet Effiong, ‘M’ was apprehended with his two children identified as Abasifreke Edet, 6, and Rachel Edet, 4, while attempting to sell them for N700, 000 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
“Effiong, 40 years was apprehended at FulCare Hospital along Ekpanya Street, where he notified the security guard of his intention to sell his two children to pay off his debt and meet other financial challenges.
“The security guard notified the NSCDC and immediately, Commandant Abidemi Majekodunmi detailed personnel of the anti-human trafficking unit of the corps who swung into action and apprehended the suspect alongside with his two daughters on November 15 at 13:15 hours.
“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.”
The NSCDC added that preliminary investigations had been concluded, and the case would be transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for prosecution.
KanyiDaily had also reported how a Nigerian man, Emmanuel Stephen was arrested for allegedly trafficking his 21-year-old girlfriend to Mali and selling her N1.5 million for prostitution.
