The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended five persons, including a couple, for their alleged roles in the sale and purchase of a two-month-old baby.
The arrests took place during the naming ceremony of the stolen infant, shedding light on a startling case of child trafficking.
The operation, which was confirmed by the command’s spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin on Saturday, involved meticulous detective work by the Oko-Oba Police Division.
The investigation began after the baby’s mother reported that her child had been taken to an unknown destination on July 11, 2024.
“Detectives immediately swung into action, leading to the arrest of one Gloria,” stated Superintendent Benjamin Hundeyin.
“During interrogation, Gloria confessed to selling the baby for N500,000 to one Pastor Peter.”
Pastor Peter, apprehended in Ikene Town, Ogun, further revealed that he had resold the child for N1.4 million to a woman named Loretta.
The police then tracked and arrested Loretta in Festac Town, Lagos. In her confession, Loretta admitted to selling the baby for N2.3 million to the final buyers, identified as Mr. and Mrs. James.
The culmination of the investigation led to the arrest of Mr. and Mrs. James during what was supposed to be a joyful naming ceremony for the child, bringing the heart-wrenching saga to a close.
Hundeyin assured the public that “all suspects will be arraigned in court at the conclusion of the investigation,” emphasizing the police’s commitment to justice and child welfare.
