The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old man for allegedly selling his sister’s one-month-old baby for N2 million.
The suspect, who lives in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, told police he sold the baby to pay for their mother’s burial.
The child’s mother reported the incident, which led to the suspect’s arrest.
State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, for further investigations.
In a chat with journalists on Friday in Lagos, the suspect admitted the act and blamed poverty for his decision.
He explained that he met the woman who bought the baby through Facebook.
“Hardship pushed me to commit the act. My sister agreed to the idea.
“I met the woman who is in need of a child on Facebook, and after negotiations, she asked me to bring the baby to Mile 2.
“I went to the location with my sister, where a man sent by the buyer collected the baby and the woman transferred N2 million to my account,” he said.
The suspect said he gave his sister N500,000 from the money and used the rest to organise their mother’s burial.
He added that after the burial, his sister demanded the baby back, accusing him of using charms to force her to agree to the sale.
“My sister later said she was not aware of the sale, and reported me to the police, which led to my arrest,” he said.
The man also said he did not know the buyer personally, had no information about her address, and that her phone number had been unreachable since the transaction.
Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, Dayo Akinbisehin, told journalists that investigations are still ongoing.
He added that the suspect will be charged to court once the investigations are completed.
