The Nigeria Police Force in Lagos has arrested a 30-year-old man accused of selling his sister’s one-month-old baby for N2 million.
Police said the suspect, who lives in Igbogbo in the Ikorodu area of Lagos, allegedly arranged the sale to raise money for their late mother’s burial.
According to police sources, the baby’s mother reported the incident after discovering that her child had been sold.
Following the complaint, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
The suspect reportedly admitted to selling the child and claimed economic hardship pushed him into committing the act.
He explained that he connected with the woman who bought the baby through Facebook, after learning that she was looking for a child.
According to him, the buyer asked him to bring the baby to Mile 2 in Lagos, where a man representing the woman collected the child.
He said the buyer then transferred N2 million into his bank account.
The suspect told investigators that he gave N500,000 to his sister, the baby’s mother, and used the remaining money to organise their mother’s burial.
However, after the funeral, his sister reportedly demanded that the baby be returned, claiming she was not aware of the sale and accusing him of using charms to manipulate her into agreeing.
Her complaint to the police eventually led to his arrest.
The Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, Dayo Akinbisehin, confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
Authorities are also trying to locate the woman who allegedly bought the baby.
According to Akinbisehin, the suspect will be charged in court once the investigation is completed.
