A nursing mother has been arrested in Owerri, Imo State, for allegedly attempting to sell her infant child for ₦1.5 million.
The woman was reportedly apprehended on Monday night following a tip-off received by an Imo-based activist and journalist, Chidiebube Okeoma.
According to reports, Okeoma was alerted by an individual who claimed to have encountered the woman carrying her baby and heard her expressing an intention to sell the child.
Following the information, arrangements were reportedly made for a meeting at Rock View, near the Imo State Police Headquarters. The activist subsequently took the woman and the informant to the police station.
During interrogation, the nursing mother allegedly claimed that another woman had encouraged her to sell the baby. However, the woman accused of making the suggestion reportedly denied the allegation. Both women are currently in police custody as investigations continue.
In a video shared by Okeoma, the nursing mother reportedly broke down while explaining the circumstances that allegedly pushed her towards the decision.
She claimed she had no stable accommodation, no job and no financial support to care for the child. She also disclosed that she had not eaten for three days despite breastfeeding the infant.
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The woman further alleged that the baby was conceived through rape and that she did not know the child’s father.
According to her account, she met the second woman while begging for food. The woman allegedly suggested that she could arrange for someone to take the baby in exchange for money, initially proposing ₦3 million, with ₦1.5 million as the minimum amount.
The nursing mother claimed she was promised that the money could help her start a business and secure accommodation.
The incident has drawn attention to the growing challenges faced by vulnerable women, particularly single mothers struggling with poverty, homelessness and inadequate social support.
However, the allegations surrounding the proposed sale remain under police investigation.
As of the time of filing this report, the Imo State Police Command had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
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