(Nigeria Police. Photo by Premuim Times)
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a medical doctor, a traditional birth attendant, and the parents of a newborn baby over the alleged sale of the infant for ₦2.5 million within Lagos.
According to police investigations, the 28-year-old mother and her boyfriend reportedly decided against keeping the child after birth and began searching for individuals who could facilitate its sale.
The couple was said to have been connected to a prospective buyer in the Ikorodu area through intermediaries involved in the arrangement.
Findings revealed that the pregnant woman was initially taken to a traditional birth attendant for delivery, but complications arose during labour, forcing her transfer to a private hospital in Ikorodu, where a medical doctor identified as the principal suspect performed a Caesarean section that saved the lives of both mother and child.
Investigators alleged that arrangements for the sale of the baby were finalised shortly after delivery, within the hospital premises.
The infant was reportedly handed over to an unidentified buyer following the payment of ₦2.5 million, with the suspected buyer still at large.
The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Fatai Tijani, has directed that the case be transferred from the Area E Command in Festac to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.
The case, which involves allegations of conspiracy, child stealing, and human trafficking, is currently being handled by the Anti-Human Trafficking/Gender Unit of the SCID, under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Dayo Akinbisehin.
