Police authorities confirmed that the suspected child trafficking incident occurred in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State, where the baby was delivered in September.
The command’s spokesperson, Deputy Superintendent of Police Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday, October 16, 2026.
Ayanlade identified the two arrested suspects as Cecilia Amos, the 23-year-old mother of the child, and Adeleke Ebenezer, 40, who operates the health centre where the baby was born.
Grandmother reports missing baby to police
According to the police, the case came to light after Mary Amos, a resident of Ogunwade in Ido, became concerned about the whereabouts of her granddaughter.
She reported the matter to the police on Thursday, October 15, at approximately 6 p.m.
Mary told investigators that her daughter, Cecilia, delivered a baby girl on September 6 at Ebepraise Health Centre in Ido.
However, about a week after the delivery, Cecilia reportedly left with the infant and subsequently failed to provide a convincing explanation about the child’s whereabouts.
Her inability to account for the baby raised concerns within the family, prompting the grandmother to seek police intervention.
Mother allegedly admits involvement in baby sale
Following the complaint, detectives arrested Cecilia for questioning.
Police said she admitted during interrogation that she had become involved in an arrangement to sell her newborn daughter.
According to the spokesperson, Cecilia implicated the owner of the health facility, identified as Adeleke Ebenezer, and another person, Hassan Oludunni.
She reportedly told investigators that the two individuals persuaded her to participate in the transaction and helped arrange the sale to a person identified as Odunayo Folawewo.
The police have not announced a conviction or publicly disclosed evidence establishing the criminal responsibility of those named.
Police reveal how alleged ₦2m payment was shared
Investigators said preliminary findings indicated that ₦2 million changed hands in connection with the suspected sale.
Of the amount, Cecilia allegedly received ₦1 million, representing half of the reported payment.
The remaining ₦1 million was allegedly divided equally between the health facility owner and Hassan Oludunni.
Police said Ebenezer was subsequently arrested over his alleged role in arranging the transaction.
Investigators are continuing efforts to determine the circumstances surrounding the payment and establish the involvement of other persons linked to the case.
Baby rescued as police search for alleged buyer
The police confirmed that the baby girl had been successfully recovered.
However, the command did not provide detailed information about her medical condition or the arrangements being made for her long-term care and protection.
Ayanlade said efforts were continuing to locate the alleged buyer, Odunayo Folawewo, alongside other individuals suspected of participating in the transaction.
The police have not confirmed whether Hassan Oludunni is in custody.
Authorities are expected to establish the full circumstances of the alleged sale before deciding on the appropriate charges against those implicated.
Child trafficking concerns persist in Oyo State
The latest rescue follows other child trafficking investigations involving the Oyo State Police Command.
In September 2026, police announced the rescue of 17 children during an investigation into a suspected trafficking network operating across several states.
The command also reported that six other children had died while allegedly being held by members of the network.
Those earlier cases are separate from the alleged baby sale in Ido, and no connection between the investigations has been established.
The latest incident has nevertheless renewed attention to the risks faced by vulnerable children and the importance of identifying suspected trafficking activities early.
Police urge residents to report suspected child trafficking
Ayanlade reiterated the command’s commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable members of society.
He called on parents, guardians, health workers and community members to report suspected child trafficking or other activities that could endanger children.
The police maintained that information from members of the public remained important to identifying suspects and preventing further offences.
Investigations into the Ido incident are ongoing, with attention focused on tracing the alleged buyer and establishing the roles of everyone suspected of involvement.
