One Chinyere Chukwu, a 38-year-old mother of 11 children, has blamed the failed attempt to sell two of her sons for the sum of N1.8m on the “economic hardship in the country.”

Chukwu, who hails from Okija in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State, was said to have connived with her 17-year-old daughter, identified as Joy Chukwu, to sell off her two sons, according to the Anambra State Ministry of Women and Social Welfare before their apprehension.

The state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, led some security operatives to arrest the suspects late on Tuesday, after posing as a buyer for the children when information of the alleged transaction got to the ministry.

Chukwu, while being interrogated, further explained that she had 11 kids and decided to sell two of them when she could not cater to them.

She said, “I have 11 kids and when I could not cater to them, I decided to sell two of them because of the economic hardship in the country. Since they are boys, the prices were kept at N1m each but after serious bargaining by the commissioner, who posed as the buyer, we decided to sell them at N1.8m, instead of the initial N2m.

“I developed an interest in the business and decided to embark on such adventure after my neighbour successfully sold one of her kids. This was my first attempt at the business.

“I had only two kids for my husband and got the remaining nine children after my husband’s demise and ever since then, I have not been able to give them adequate care and support.”

Also speaking, her 17-year-old daughter, who is equally the eldest of the 11 children, added that the plan was to use the proceeds in advancing her tertiary education.

While reacting to the development, Obinabo ordered that the remaining children of the suspect be taken into state government’s custody for proper care while also vowing to apprehend the woman’s said neighbour, who had sold off her kid.

The commissioner further directed that after the neighbour had been arrested, contact tracing of the kid would follow in order to retrieve the child.

Obinabo assured the state of the government’s resolve in eradicating crimes and warned that anyone found engaging in such an act would be handed over to the police and prosecuted.