A one-month-old baby girl has been rescued by the police in Oyo State following an alleged sale involving her mother and the owner of the health facility where she was delivered.
The Oyo State Police Command said it had arrested two suspects in connection with the incident, which occurred in Ido Local Government Area of Ibadan. The suspects are the baby’s mother, 23-year-old Cecilia Amos, and the owner of Ebepraise Health Centre, Ido, 40-year-old Dr Adeleke Ebenezer.
The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Olayinka Ayanlade, disclosed the arrests in a statement issued on Friday.
According to the statement, the case was reported to the police at about 6 p.m. on October 15, 2026, by Mary Amos of the Ogunwade area of Ido.
Mary reportedly told the police that her daughter gave birth to a baby girl at Ebepraise Health Centre on September 6, 2026, but disappeared with the child about seven days after delivery.
She said her daughter could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the baby’s whereabouts, raising suspicion that the child might have been sold.
Following the report, police operatives arrested Cecilia for questioning. The police said she allegedly confessed during interrogation that Ebenezer and another suspect, Hassan Oludunni, had lured her into the arrangement and facilitated the sale of the baby to a person identified as Odunayo Folawewo.
Investigations reportedly revealed that the baby was sold for ₦2 million, with Cecilia allegedly receiving ₦1 million, while Ebenezer and Oludunni were said to have received ₦500,000 each.
The police subsequently rescued the baby and arrested Ebenezer in connection with the alleged transaction.
However, Oludunni and Folawewo were yet to be arrested as of the time of the statement, according to the police, who said efforts were ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects.
The command reiterated its commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons, urging residents to report suspected cases of child trafficking and related offences promptly.
Members of the public can report emergencies or provide information through the Oyo State Call Response Centre’s toll-free number, 615, or contact the police command’s control room on 08081768614 and 07055495413.
The police said the investigation was continuing to ensure that all those allegedly involved in the transaction were brought to justice.
