National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), has rescued a-six month old Akwa Ibom child sold to a syndicate who claimed to own an orphanage in Imo state.
The agency is said to have stormed Imo state on Wednesday March 13, on a rescue operation following a tip off by a concerned citizen of the state.
The mother of the child Emediong Asuquo, a teenager from Etinan local government area, said she was impregnated by her boy friend whom she said could not take care of her and the child.
Emediong, an orphan, revealed that because of the economic situation of her family, she opted to keep the baby with anybody who was ready to take care of the child till she can fend for herself with the baby.
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“I only needed somebody who could take care of my baby till my situation improves then I can get the baby back.”
The teenage mother narrated she was taken aback when her baby was sold to somebody in Abia state by her friend Stella Effiong with the money not shared to her.
Emediong said she was compelled to sign document indicating that she will not come back for the child again.
The suspect, Stella Asuquo who led Emediong to perfect the selling of her child in Abia state before the baby was taken to Imo state, said she was moved by her friend’s unceasing complaints for lack of food to take care of herself and the baby, and the hostile nature of Emediong’s husband.
“Emediong usually come to complain to me that she would stay for days without eating anything and her boy friend always beat her without even providing any assistance for her and the baby.” Stella said.
She noted that Ememdiong and her travelled to Abia state to sell the baby for six hundred thousand naira but she was directed by Emediong to keep her share of three hundred thousand pending when she would travel to learn handwork.
On why the baby was paid for against Emediong’s wish of keeping the baby in a save hands till she is financially stable, Stella could not answer.
When contacted, the Zonal Commander for NAPTIP, Mr. Emmanuel Awhen confirmed the story but said investigation into the case is ongoing.
On what the agency has down to stem the tide of trafficking in the state, the Zonal Commander, noted that they have been carrying out sensitization and enlightenment campaigns in public places including schools.
He appealed to state government and other well meaning Akwa Ibomites to assist the agency feed, train and empower victims of human trafficking to settle down.
“We have been carrying out sensitization. We have carried out enlightenment campaign in schools and market places. We are also trying to collaborate with Akwa Ibom state task force on human trafficking by putting resources together to minimize the issue in the state.
“We go to schools to enlighten the students what human trafficking is all about and how they can be lured.
“Human trafficking especially sales of baby is very high in Akwa Ibom state. In fact during December period we embarked on a lot of enlightenment campaigns because that was the peak period where people come in to lure young ones out.
“We need resources to carry out operation and go for investigation. We also need vehicles to go on operation. We need financial support from government and other agencies to shelter, feed, train and empower those rescued trafficking victims.”
He identified poverty as major cause of human trafficking.
