A 33-year-old woman in Ogun state, Nigeria, has been arrested for allegedly selling her baby for N600,000 ($1,480) to offset a bank loan.
The suspect, identified as Nwanneka Nkumah, was apprehended by the police after the father of the child reported the incident.
According to the father, he had left the baby in the custody of the mother shortly after the child was born but was surprised to discover that the baby had been sold when he returned to collect the child.
The police investigation led to the arrest of Nkumah, who confessed to the crime and said she sold the baby to a couple who had been searching for a child of their own.
The police also arrested the couple who bought the baby, identified as Mr and Mrs Sunday Kalu. The couple reportedly admitted to paying Nkumah N600,000 for the baby but claimed they did not know it was illegal. The police, however, maintained that the act was illegal and charged all three suspects in court for child trafficking.
The state Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, who confirmed the incident, warned members of the public against such acts, stating that the police would continue to take a strong stance against child trafficking and other forms of criminal activity in the state. The baby has been rescued and returned to the father.
