Oyo State Police have rescued a one-month-old baby girl allegedly sold for ₦2 million in Ido, Ibadan. Two suspects, including the child’s mother and a health facility owner, have been arrested, while efforts continue to apprehend other suspects.
The Oyo State Police Command has rescued a one-month-old baby girl allegedly sold for ₦2 million in Ido Local Government Area of Ibadan, with two suspects arrested in connection with the suspected child trafficking case.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed this in a statement released in Ibadan, confirming that investigations were ongoing to apprehend other persons allegedly involved in the transaction.
According to the police, the case was reported on October 15 by Mary Amos, who raised concerns over the disappearance of her granddaughter.
Amos reportedly told the police that her 23-year-old daughter, Cecilia Amos, gave birth to a baby girl on September 6 at Ebepraise Health Centre in Ido.
She alleged that her daughter disappeared with the infant about seven days after delivery and could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the child’s whereabouts, prompting suspicions that the baby might have been sold.
Following the report, police operatives arrested the baby’s mother for questioning.
Ayanlade said the mother allegedly confessed during interrogation that the owner of the health facility and another individual, identified as Hassan Oludunni, had lured her into the arrangement and facilitated the baby’s sale to a person identified as Odunayo Folawewo.
The police spokesperson said investigations revealed that the transaction involved ₦2 million, of which the baby’s mother allegedly received ₦1 million, while the health facility owner and Oludunni received ₦500,000 each.
The police subsequently rescued the infant and arrested the health facility owner, while efforts continued to apprehend the alleged buyer and other persons linked to the case.
The command reiterated its commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons, urging members of the public to report suspected cases of child trafficking and related offences promptly.
The police said investigations would continue to ensure that all persons found culpable were brought to justice.
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