The police operatives in Oyo State have rescued a one-month-old baby girl allegedly sold by her 23-year-old mother for N2 million.
The baby was sold to one Folawewo in Ido Local Government Area of Ibadan immediately after delivery by the mother.
However, the baby was rescued following report to the police by the grandmother, Oyo Police Command’s spokesperson DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, said in a statement on Saturday in Ibadan.
According to Ayanlade, the health facility owner facilitated the sale of the baby girl after her mother delivered there.
The PPRO said that a woman, Mary Amos, reported the incident to the police at about 6.00pm on Thursday,
The complainant, said the police spokesperson, claimed that her 23-year-old daughter gave birth to a baby girl on September 6 at Ebepraise Health Centre, Ido.
“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 N1 million of the N2 million, while the health facility owner and Oludunni received N500,000 each.
According to him, the one-month-old baby girl has been rescued, and efforts are currently ongoing to arrest the buyer of the baby, Folawemo, and all other persons involved to face justice.
He reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons.
He also urged members of the public to promptly report any suspected cases of child trafficking and related offences.
- NAN