Police arrest five for child trafficking, rescue two-month-old baby

Detectives from the Oko-oba Division of the Lagos State Police Command have busted a child trafficking ring, rescuing a two-month-old baby and arresting five individuals involved in the crime.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this in a statement released on Saturday.

Hundeyin revealed that the operation was launched following a report filed by the distressed mother of the abducted infant, who said that one Gloria Sunday absconded with her son on July 11, 2024.

The statement partly read, “Detectives swung into action, which led to the arrest of Gloria Sunday, who, during interrogation, confessed to selling the baby for ₦500,000 to one Pastor Peter Udoh ‘m’.

“Pastor Udoh, who was subsequently arrested in Ikene Town, Ogun State, admitted reselling the child for One Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (₦1,450,000) to one Loretta Nelson ‘f’ who was then also apprehended in Festac Town, Lagos.

“She confessed to selling the baby for two million, three hundred and fifty thousand naira (₦2,350,000).”

The final buyers of the baby, Mr. and Mrs. James Uwam, were said to have been arrested during a naming ceremony for the abducted child.

Hundeyin added that all suspects are currently in police custody and will be arraigned in court upon completion of the investigation.

Similarly, PUNCH Online reports that the Nigerian Immigration Service, Lagos Border Patrol Command, Seme, Badagry, has rescued a six-month-old baby and three others suspected to be victims of human trafficking.

It was also reported in May that operatives of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command arrested two persons, Kulu Dogonyaro and Elizabeth Ojah, for attempted child trafficking and rescued five minors who had been taken by the suspects.