The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended a medical doctor, a traditional birth attendant, and two other individuals for allegedly conspiring to sell a newborn baby for N2.5 million.
Case transferred to SCID
Initially reported at the Area E Command in Festac, the case was transferred on June 1 to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba. Anti-human trafficking and gender detectives are handling the investigation under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr. Dayo Akinbisehin.
Mother and boyfriend sought to sell child
Investigations revealed that the 28-year-old mother of the baby and her boyfriend decided not to keep the child and sought individuals to facilitate the sale after birth. The couple was reportedly linked to a prospective buyer in Ikorodu through intermediaries.
The pregnant woman was initially taken to a traditional birth attendant for delivery. However, due to complications during labor, she was referred to a private hospital operated by a medical doctor, where she underwent a successful Caesarean section.
Sale conducted on hospital premises
Shortly after delivery, arrangements were made within the hospital premises to sell the newborn to an unidentified buyer for N2.5 million. The baby was handed over to the buyer, who remains at large. According to a police source, efforts to trace the suspect have been unsuccessful, as the address and telephone number provided by the alleged buyer were discovered to be false.
“The information supplied by the person who took the baby turned out to be non-existent. The address could not be traced, and the phone number was incorrect,” the source stated.
Mother received only N700,000
Investigators revealed that the baby’s mother initially consented to the arrangement, but the deal reportedly fell apart after she allegedly received only N700,000 out of the agreed N2.5 million. The matter came to light after the woman raised concerns over the unpaid balance.
Subsequently, non-governmental organizations became involved and reported the matter to the police, triggering an investigation. The police have identified one of the principal suspects as a 31-year-old medical doctor who had been practicing for about four years.
Baby factory suspected
Another woman alleged to have facilitated the transaction, as well as the buyer of the baby, are reportedly on the run. During a raid on a residence linked to the suspects, police found three young girls, two of whom were pregnant, raising suspicions of an organized criminal baby factory.
This led to further arrests, with several suspects now in custody while investigations continue. The police said efforts are ongoing to arrest the fleeing suspects, recover the missing baby, and ensure that all those involved in the alleged trafficking network are brought to justice.
