Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Police in Oyo State have rescued a one-month-old baby girl sold for ₦2 million following an investigation into her disappearance in Ido Local Government Area.
The case came to light after Mary Amos reported the incident to the police at about 6pm on Thursday, according to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, who disclosed the development in a statement issued in Ibadan on Saturday.
Ayanlade said Amos alleged that her 23-year-old daughter gave birth to the baby on September 6 at Ebepraise Health Centre in Ido.
He said the complainant became concerned after her daughter disappeared with the infant about seven days after delivery and could not satisfactorily explain the child’s whereabouts, prompting suspicions that the baby had been sold.
Following the report, police operatives arrested the mother for questioning. According to Ayanlade, she confessed during interrogation that the owner of the health facility and a person identified as Oludunni allegedly lured her into the arrangement and facilitated the sale to a buyer identified as Folawewo.
Further investigations indicated that the baby’s mother allegedly received ₦1 million from the transaction, while the health facility owner and Oludunni received ₦500,000 each, the police spokesperson said.
The police have rescued the infant, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the alleged buyer and other suspects connected to the suspected child trafficking case.
Ayanlade reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons, urging members of the public to report suspected child trafficking and related offences promptly.
