Elisha Effiong, 40, has been arrested by the Operatives of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, for allegedly conniving with his wife to sell their two daughters in Akwa Ibom.
Elisha, who lives in Cameroon with his wife, was arrested in Uyo on Monday, November 15, 2021, while trying to sell their two children, identified as Abasifreke Edet and Rachael Edet.
In a statement on Wednesday by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Umana Ukeme, the suspect was quoted to have based his decision to sell the children on hardship.
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Umana Ukeme, NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Akwa Ibom State command, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday November 23, stating that the suspects while confessing said they made the decision to sell their children due to extreme hardship.
He added that the suspect had earlier confided in a private security guard and disclosed his plans to the guard. It was the guard who notified the commandant of the corps Mr. Abidemi Majekodunmi who immediately ordered the arrest of the culprit.
Ukeme said;
“The suspect, Elisha Effiong Edet, 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.
“Elisha, 40, 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 his two daughters.”
According to Ukeme preliminary investigations have been concluded, the case would be transferred to the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP, Uyo for prosecution.
The commandant was said to have commended the security guard for the prompt release of the information that led to the arrest of the suspect.
