By Mary BASSEY, Senior Investigator Correspondent Lagos/
LAGOS-POLICE in Lagos weekend, foiled the sale and re-sale of one month old baby boy in Lagos and arrested all parties involve in the unwholesome commerce. Some of the suspects were husband and wife who were last buyers of the baby and were celebrating his naming ceremony when they were rounded up. Sources said the arrest followed a complaint by the mother of the baby, Gloria Sunday that her close friend had absconded with her chiled. According to sources, during intense interrogation the said complaint later buckled and confessed that she actually sold the child to one Pastor Peter Udoh for the dum of N500,000.00 to cater to herself.
Subsequently, the said pastor was tracked to Ogun State and arrested. In the meantime, the Pastor had re-sold the baby for N1, 450,000.00 to one Loretta Nelson resident in Festac Town, Lagos. She inturns, sold to a couple, Mr. and Mrs. James Uwem for N2, 350,000.00.Police spokesperson to the Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin who confirmed the incident said, the suspects would all be arraigned at the end of investigation adding, “Detectives of Oko-oba Division have successfully apprehended several individuals involved in a child trafficking operation following a report from the mother of a two-month old missing boy.
The mother of the missing child reported that one Gloria Sunday ‘f’, absconded with her son to an unknown destination on July 11, 2024. Detectives swung into action which led to the arrest of Gloria Sunday whom during interrogation confessed to selling the baby for Five Hundred Thousand Naira (₦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).”Further investigations led to the arrest of the final buyers of the baby, Mr. and Mrs. James Uwam, during the naming ceremony of the stolen child. All suspects will be arraigned in court at the conclusion of investigation.”
