Polytechnic student arrested while selling own baby for N70,000

A Higher National Diploma (HND) student of the Offa Polytechnic, Kwara State, Idiat Babatunde, has been arrested by detectives attached to the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly selling her three-weeks-old baby, for N70, 000.

Babatunde, a Library and Information Science student, arrested alongside the couple who bought the baby identified as Mr and Mrs Ayogbemile whole the middle man, Onalaja Olawale, trado-medical practitioner, was also arrested after he allegedly collected N136, 000 from the couple who live at the Ipaja area of the state and gave the girl N70, 000, from the agreed amount of N300,000.

But the deal was busted by the landlord of the Ayogbemiles who saw the woman who at no time was pregnant, suddenly began nursing a baby girl and introducing the baby to everyone as her new born daughter. The landlord became suspicious and reported the matter to the police who swooped in and arrested the couple and all connected in the deal.

During interrogation, the student said:

“I delivered the baby on September 5, but because of issues of missing script and clearance, I needed to rush down to my school in Kwara State.

I left for Kwara on September 12. I did not want anything to affect my going for my National Youth Service.

I left my baby with the doctor because he and my husband are friends. I know that his wife had just delivered a baby and she would be able to take care of my baby. I never knew he would sell my baby. I trusted him.”

But the police claims she is not telling the whole truth as she actually sold the baby after she had a problem with the father.

“It was an outright sale. Idiat collected the money. The ‘doctor’ said so, but she denied collecting any money from him. The real amount is N300,000.

The childless couple was able to raise N136,000. The ‘doctor’ gave Idiat N70,000," the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Joe Offor, said.

On her part, Mrs. Ayogbemile said:

“I’ve known the ‘doctor’ since 2013. He had been treating me because I used to have miscarriages.

He called me last year that I should adopt a child but I said no. Soon after, my husband and I had a quarrel and we separated.

The ‘doctor’ called me last week. He said that he had a baby girl for me. I did not know that the baby’s mother was not aware of the deal. The ‘doctor’ said he would prepare papers for us at Alausa, Ikeja.”

Selling of babies by young mothers is definitely on the increase. On August 25, a 15-year-old girl, Chinwendu Agbo, was docked by an Enugu East Magistrates’ Court in Enugu State, for selling her new-born baby.

Read: "In Enugu: 15-yr-old mum jailed for selling her baby for N70,000"

In February of this year, four suspected female child traffickers were nabbed at Ogidi, Idemili North local government area of Anambra State, for their alleged involvement in the stealing, selling and buying of a two-month old baby girl for N625,000.

Read: "Child Theft: 4 women arrested for selling 2-month-old baby for N625k"