A 22-year-old woman is currently in police custody in Delta State after she allegedly sold her two-month-old baby for ₦1,500,000 and subsequently staged a kidnapping to cover her tracks.
According to police reports, the woman approached the Ekpan Police Station in Uvwie Local Government Area, claiming she had been violently attacked by unknown gunmen who snatched her infant. However, investigators became suspicious of her inconsistent testimony during the initial debriefing.
The False Report and Confession
The suspect initially alleged that she was intercepted while walking along a local road, where she was “beaten and her baby forcefully taken.” Under intense interrogation by detectives, her story crumbled. She eventually confessed that she had voluntarily sold the child to a couple in a pre-arranged transaction.
Following her confession, she led the police to the residence of the buyers, who were also arrested. It was discovered that the woman had already received a substantial part of the ₦1.5 million payment before filing the false police report.
Police Warning on Child Trafficking
The Delta State Police Command has condemned the act, noting a disturbing rise in cases where biological parents sell their children due to economic hardship or unwanted pregnancies.
The Police Public Relations Officer stated that the suspect will be charged with child trafficking and giving false information to a public officer. The rescued baby is currently in the care of the state welfare department as investigations continue to identify any other intermediaries involved in the sale.
