A shocking child-theft plot has landed a Lagos medical doctor, a traditional birth attendant, and a newborn’s parents in police custody after they allegedly sold a baby for ₦2.5 million.
The ordeal began when the 28-year-old mother and her boyfriend decided against keeping the pregnancy, actively searching for a buyer before the child was even born.
Intermediaries eventually linked them to an interested party in Ikorodu in the state.
When labour began, the woman first sought the services of a traditional birth attendant.
However, dangerous complications arose, forcing her emergency transfer to a private hospital in Ikorodu.
It was there that the suspect doctor stepped in, performing a life-saving Caesarean section for the mother and child.
But instead of celebrating the safe delivery, the suspects allegedly finalized the illegal deal right inside the hospital, trading the newborn to an unidentified buyer for ₦2.5 million.
The buyer, however, is still on the run.
Meanwhile, Lagos Police Commissioner Fatai Tijani has directed that the case be transferred from Area E Command, Festac, to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation.
The investigation into allegations of conspiracy, child stealing and trafficking is being handled by the Anti-Human Trafficking/Gender Unit of the SCID under the supervision of the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the department, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin.
A police source said efforts to trace the buyer was unsuccessful, as the address and telephone number supplied were discovered to be false.
“The information supplied by the person who took the baby turned out to be false. The address could not be traced and the phone number was incorrect.
“The baby’s mother had initially consented to the arrangement. However, the deal went sour after she allegedly received only N700,000 out of the agreed N2.5 million payment.
“The matter came to light after the woman raised concerns over the unpaid balance. Some non-governmental organisations later became involved and reported the matter to the police, triggering an investigation,” the source said.
According to the source, the 31-year-old medical doctor, the baby’s parents and the traditional birth attendant are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the buyer and rescue the baby.
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