The Lagos State Police Command has arrested four individuals, including a medical doctor and a traditional birth attendant, in connection with the alleged sale of a newborn baby for N2.5 million.
According to police findings, the baby’s 28-year-old mother and her boyfriend allegedly decided before the birth that they would not keep the child and began searching for people who could help facilitate a sale after delivery.
Investigators said the couple was introduced to a prospective buyer in the Ikorodu area through intermediaries.
The expectant mother was initially taken to a traditional birth attendant for childbirth. However, complications during labour reportedly led to her transfer to a private hospital in Ikorodu, where a doctor carried out a successful Caesarean section, ensuring the survival of both mother and baby.
Police sources said arrangements for the transaction were finalised shortly after the delivery within the hospital premises, and the newborn was allegedly handed over to an unidentified buyer in exchange for N2.5 million.
The buyer has not yet been located.
Following the development, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani, ordered the transfer of the case from the Area E Command in Festac to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a more detailed probe.
The case, involving allegations of conspiracy, child theft and human trafficking, is currently being investigated by the Anti-Human Trafficking and Gender Unit of the SCID under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Dayo Akinbisehin.
A police source disclosed that attempts to track down the buyer had so far proved unsuccessful because the contact details and address provided were found to be false.
“The information given by the individual who took custody of the baby could not be verified. The address was non-existent and the phone number supplied was invalid.
“The mother initially agreed to the arrangement, but the issue escalated when she allegedly received only N700,000 instead of the agreed N2.5 million.
“She later complained about the outstanding balance, and the matter eventually attracted the attention of some non-governmental organisations, which reported it to the police,” the source said.
The source added that the 31-year-old doctor, the baby’s parents and the traditional birth attendant remain in police custody and are expected to face prosecution once investigations are completed.
Authorities said efforts are continuing to locate the missing buyer and recover the child.