- Lagos police arrest 22-year-old mother and seven others for selling her one-year-old son for ₦1.5 million.
- Authorities rescue five trafficked children as investigations uncover a well-organized child-selling network.
- Police vow to track fleeing syndicate members and reunite rescued children with their families.
Detectives from the Zone 2 Police Headquarters in Onikan, Lagos, have arrested a 22-year-old mother, Faith Sunday, and seven members of a child trafficking syndicate for allegedly selling her one-year-old son for ₦1.5 million.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that according to the police, the arrests followed a months-long investigation triggered by intelligence received by Zone 2 Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Adegoke Fayoade.
During interrogation, Faith Sunday admitted to selling her son in September 2024 due to financial hardship. “Hunger forced me to sell my child to the syndicate. I wanted to invest the money in a business,” she confessed.
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She reportedly sold the child through two accomplices, Mrs. Ibezim Chioma and Sunday Okputu, to a buyer in the Alausa area of Ikeja, Lagos.
Speaking on the case, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Ajao Adewale, head of the Zonal Anti-Crime Unit, described the syndicate as a well-organized child trafficking network.
“The suspects specialized in buying and selling newborns, toddlers, and children of various ages,” Adewale said. “Sunday Okputu acted as the supplier, while Chioma served as the intermediary. The syndicate’s caregiver, Mrs. Chinasa Echellibe, housed the children until buyers were secured.”
Police operatives, led by Ngozi Braide, rescued five victims, including one-year-old Marvelous Obi, who was sold by Chioma to Mrs. Ken Obi and an Italy-based woman, Mrs. Appulus Marina Oluchi. Also recovered was three-year-old Promise Ifekwuna, purchased for ₦500,000 in 2021 by Mrs. Ifekwuna Ngozi.
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Another victim, Somtochukwu, was found in the care of Nanny Nwakuba Helen Chinyere, who claimed she was employed by her sister, Caroline Enwereji, a resident of California, USA.
DCP Adewale highlighted the syndicate’s transnational connections and assured that efforts were ongoing to track down fleeing members. “The investigation is still ongoing, and we are working to reunite the rescued children with their families,” he stated.
The case has reignited concerns over poverty-driven crimes in Lagos, with authorities vowing to intensify crackdowns on human trafficking networks.
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