By Capital Watch Media
The Delta State Police Command has arrested three suspects in connection with an alleged baby trafficking operation in the state.
The police spokesperson, Bright Edafe, confirmed the arrests in a video shared on social media on Monday.
He stated that authorities are intensifying efforts to dismantle illegal child trafficking networks.
According to Edafe, one of the suspects, the child’s mother, allegedly handed over her newborn to an unidentified woman, who later sold the baby for ₦3.5 million but only gave the mother ₦600,000.
“The girl with long hair got pregnant, and people took care of her, but after some time, they saw her without the pregnancy,” Edafe stated.
“When asked what happened to her baby, she said a woman helped her sell the child and gave her ₦600,000.”
In a confession, the intermediary who sold the baby disclosed the financial transactions involved.
“I sold the baby for ₦3.5 million. I gave the mother ₦600,000. The ₦30,000 was the money she took from me earlier on. I gave her ₦600,000 for her business. The remaining money is in my account; I didn’t touch it. She said she didn’t want to breastfeed, that she didn’t need the relationship,” the suspect explained.
The buyer, also arrested, claimed she had intended to adopt the child legally. “I’m from Ika, and there’s a lady in my area. I told her I wanted to adopt a child legally. I paid the seller ₦5 million. She told me the documentation was in process and that she would bring it,” the buyer stated.
Edafe reaffirmed the police’s commitment to tackling illegal baby trafficking operations.
“This baby factory business, we are clamping down on it seriously,” he declared.
The suspects are currently in police custody, and further investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals connected to the operation.
Authorities have urged members of the public to report suspicious activities related to child trafficking.
The Delta State Police Command has assured that legal action will be taken against all those involved in the case.
