The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a one-month-old baby girl allegedly sold for N2 million and arrested two suspects, including the child’s mother and the owner of the health facility where she was delivered.
The incident occurred in Ido Local Government Area of Ibadan, with the police confirming that efforts were ongoing to apprehend other suspects linked to the alleged child trafficking.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this on Friday in a statement.
According to the statement, the case was reported on October 15 by Mary Amos, a resident of the Ogunwade area of Ido, who raised concerns over the disappearance of her granddaughter.
The police said the child’s mother, identified as Cecilia, implicated the owner of the health facility, 40-year-old Dr Adeleke Ebenezer, and Hassan Oludunni, whom she alleged lured her into the arrangement and facilitated the sale of the baby to Odunayo Folawewo.
“She further reported that her daughter disappeared with the baby about seven days after delivery and could not provide a satisfactory account of the child’s whereabouts, raising suspicions that the baby might have been sold.
“Acting on the report, police operatives arrested the baby’s mother for questioning.
“She confessed during interrogation that the owner of the health facility and one Oludunni lured her into the arrangement and facilitated the sale of the baby to one Folawewo,” he said.
Ayanlade said investigations later revealed that the baby’s mother received N1m of the N2m, while the owner of the health facility and Oludunni allegedly received N500,000 each.
According to him, the baby girl has been rescued, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the alleged buyer and other persons involved in the incident.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons.
He also urged members of the public to promptly report suspected cases of child trafficking and related offences.
