Authorities detain individual for allegedly trafficking infant niece in Lagos for N2m

A 30-year-old man has been apprehended by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly selling his sister's one-month-old baby for a sum of N2 million.

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The suspect, a resident of Igbogbo in the Ikorodu area of the state, purportedly sold the infant to cover the costs of their mother's burial, according to a claim he made.

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The mother of the baby took swift action by reporting the incident to the police, which ultimately led to the suspect's arrest.

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The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for further investigation, as ordered by the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Olohundare Jimoh.

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In a recent interview on Friday in Lagos, the suspect confessed to the crime and attributed his actions to poverty, stating that he had met the woman who purchased the baby on Facebook.

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He recounted the events leading up to the sale, explaining that he and his sister had agreed to the idea, and after negotiating with the buyer, she had instructed him to bring the baby to Mile 2.

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A man, sent by the buyer, collected the baby at the designated location, and the woman subsequently transferred N2 million to the suspect's account, he said.

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The suspect claimed to have given his sister N500,000 from the proceeds and used the remaining amount to cover their mother's burial expenses.

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However, after the burial, his sister demanded that he return her baby, alleging that he had used charms to manipulate her into selling the child.

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The suspect stated that his sister eventually reported him to the police, claiming she was not aware of the sale, which led to his arrest.

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He admitted to not knowing the buyer personally and having no information about her address, adding that her phone number had been unreachable since the purchase.

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According to the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, Mr Dayo Akinbisehin, investigations into the case are currently underway.

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Upon conclusion of the investigations, Akinbisehin stated that the suspect would be charged to court.