The Suspect
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a medical doctor, a traditional birth attendant, and two other suspects over their alleged involvement in the sale of a newborn baby for ₦2.5 million.
The case, initially reported at the Area E Command in Festac, was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba on June 1.
Detectives from the Anti-Human Trafficking and Gender Unit are currently handling the investigation under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID.
According to police sources, the 28-year-old mother of the baby and her boyfriend had reportedly decided not to keep the child and began seeking individuals to facilitate its sale. The couple was allegedly connected to a prospective buyer in Ikorodu through intermediaries.
The pregnant woman was first taken to a traditional birth attendant for delivery. However, due to complications during labour, she was referred to a private hospital operated by one of the suspects, where she underwent a successful Caesarean section.
Investigations revealed that shortly after the delivery, arrangements were concluded within the hospital premises to sell the newborn to an unidentified buyer for ₦2.5 million. The baby was subsequently handed over, but the buyer remains at large.
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Efforts by the police to trace the buyer have so far been unsuccessful, as the address and phone number provided were discovered to be false.
Further findings indicate that although the mother initially consented to the arrangement, the deal reportedly broke down after she received only ₦700,000 from the agreed sum. Her complaints over the unpaid balance eventually exposed the operation.
The case was later reported to authorities by concerned non-governmental organisations, prompting a full-scale investigation.
During a raid on a residence linked to the suspects, police reportedly discovered three young girls, two of whom were pregnant, raising suspicions of a larger, organised baby trafficking syndicate.
Additional arrests have since been made, while some key suspects, including the alleged buyer and another female accomplice, remain on the run.
The police say efforts are ongoing to apprehend all fleeing suspects, rescue the missing baby, and dismantle the suspected trafficking network.
Investigations are still underway.
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