BAYO AKINLOYE
The Enugu State Commissioner of Gender Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Peace Ngwu, has said she will not disclose the facility where newborn babies forcibly taken away from their jailed mothers are kept.
In a report published by SUNDAY PUNCH on May 28, the Gender Affairs was accused of being part of an Enugu-based baby trafficking ring along with the police and some hospitals that forcibly took away, as soon as they were born, the babies belonging to two girls, Emmanuella Nwedu (who was released on bail after spending one year in jail) and Chijindu Nworie (who is still in prison).
Sources familiar with the matter stated that Ngwu had been reaching out to some influential people in Enugu and Ebonyi in a bid to sweep the matter under the carpet.
Ngwu, however, refuted the claim.
“Rather than attend to the files sent to her office, the Gender Affairs commissioner has been running from pillar to post on the issue of Emmanuella and Chijindu. She has even gone as far as meeting some top people in Ebonyi State.
“I think the people there have told her to get back the girls’ babies,” one of the sources said.
But in a phone conversation with our correspondent, the embattled commissioner said, “The babies are well taken care of. We have said it before that the girls should come for their babies if they want them. We are only trying to help them. The babies are longing to bond with their mothers. They are doing well in the facility in which they are kept.”
When asked about the identity and location of the facility, Ngwu replied, “Since you refused to tell (me) those who told you I went to Abakaliki for help on this matter, I will not tell you the facility where the babies are kept. During the handover of the babies to their mothers, we will invite PUNCH to be there.”
She further noted that if the girls could not identify their babies, DNA tests would be conducted.
Meanwhile, as part of efforts by civil organisations to get the girls’ babies back and have Nworie released, Amnesty International Nigeria has petitioned the Enugu State Attorney General, Mellitus Eze, to investigate the case of child trafficking preferred against the girls.
When contacted, Eze said he could not comment on the matter.
“I am not in my office right now and I cannot speak on anything unless I have the files on the matter before me,” Eze said.
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