- A 22-year-old woman has been arrested in Delta State for allegedly selling her two-month-old baby for £1.5 million and reporting a fake kidnapping.
- Police discovered the plot after inconsistencies in her account led to her confession, the arrest of the buyer and the rescue of the child, who is now in state care.
A 22-year-old woman is currently in police custody in Delta State after allegedly selling her two-month-old baby for £1,500,000 and subsequently orchestrating a kidnapping to cover her tracks.
According to police reports, the woman came to Ekpan Police Station in Uwe Local Government Area claiming that she was violently attacked by unknown gunmen who snatched her baby away. However, investigators cast doubt on her inconsistent testimony during initial debriefings.
False reports and confessions
The suspect initially claimed she was stopped while walking on a local road, “beaten and her child forcibly taken away”. Under harsh interrogation by detectives, her story collapsed. She eventually admitted that she voluntarily sold the child to a couple in a prearranged transaction.
After pleading guilty, she led police to the buyer’s residence, who was also arrested. Investigation revealed that the woman had received most of the 1.5 million won payment before filing a false report to the police.
Police warn against child trafficking
The Delta State Police Command condemned the act, noting the disturbing increase in cases of biological parents selling their children due to financial difficulties or unwanted pregnancies.
Police public relations officials said the suspect will be charged with child trafficking and providing false information to a public official. The rescued baby is currently in the care of state welfare authorities and investigations continue to identify other middlemen involved in the sale.
