The police in Ogun State have arrested a 33-year-old mother, Olaide Adekunle, who allegedly sold her 18-month-old baby for N600,000 to pay off a loan she obtained from a microfinance bank. The shocking incident has raised concerns about child trafficking and illegal adoption practices in Nigeria.

According to police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the suspect was arrested following a report at Sango divisional headquarters by her husband, one Nureni Rasaq. The husband had reported that the wife left home for Lagos in March with their baby girl, Moridiat Rasaq, but returned home without the baby.

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All efforts to know what happened to the baby proved abortive as the woman was unable to give any reasonable account of the baby’s whereabouts.

During interrogation, the suspect confessed to have sold the baby for N600,000 to an unknown buyer in Lagos. She explained that she had borrowed money from a microfinance bank and when she was unable to repay the loan, the bank agents started threatening her. In desperation, she ran to Lagos and started hawking sachet water.

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It was while hawking that she met a man who introduced her to the woman that eventually bought the child.

The illegal sale of the baby has raised serious concerns about child trafficking and illegal adoption practices in Nigeria. Child trafficking is a heinous crime that violates the rights and well-being of vulnerable children, and it is punishable under Nigerian law.

The incident has highlighted the need for increased awareness and enforcement of laws against child trafficking and illegal adoption in the country.

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The Acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Babakura Muhammed, has directed that the suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation and possible recovery of the baby. The police are also on the lookout for the buyer, in order to bring them to justice and ensure the safe return of the child to her rightful family.