Couple buy baby from Lagos traffickers, arrested during naming ceremony

The Lagos State Police Command has rescued a two-month-old baby boy from a couple, Mr and Mrs James Uwam, during the naming ceremony of the child in the state.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement on Saturday, said the couple paid N2,350,000 to buy the baby from a suspected child trafficker, Loretta Nelson, who bought the baby from a pastor, Peter Udoh, for N1,450,000.

Hundeyin said Udoh bought the baby for N500,000 from another suspected child trafficker, Gloria Sunday, who allegedly stole the baby on July 11, 2024, a situation that prompted the mother of the baby to report the case to the police.

Following the report, Hundeyin said the police swung to action and arrested Sunday, who led them to arrest other suspects linked to the crime by detectives attached to the Oko Oba Division of the command.

The PPRO said, “Detectives swung into action which led to the arrest of Gloria Sunday who during interrogation confessed to selling the baby for N500,000 to one Pastor Peter Udoh.

“Pastor Udoh, who was subsequently arrested in Ikene Town, Ogun State, admitted reselling the child for N1,450,000 to one Loretta Nelson who was then also apprehended in Festac Town, Lagos.”

Hundeyin said Nelson confessed to selling the baby for N2,350,000 to one Mr. and Mrs. James Uwam who were apprehended during the naming ceremony of the stolen child.

Hundeyin noted that investigations have commenced and the suspects will be arraigned at the court after the investigation.