Ogona Anita
The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 30-year-old man accused of selling his sister’s one-month-old baby for N2 million in Igbogbo, Ikorodu area of the state.
The suspect claimed he sold the infant to raise money for their mother’s burial.
It was gathered that the baby’s mother reported the matter to the police, leading to the suspect’s arrest.
Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Panti for further investigation.
It was learnt that the suspect admitted to the act during an interview with journalists in Lagos on Friday, March 7, 2026.
He attributed his actions to financial hardship.
The suspect explained that he connected with the woman who purchased the baby through Facebook.
He stated that poverty pushed him into doing it and that his sister initially agreed to the arrangement.
According to the suspect, the woman seeking a child asked him to bring the baby to Mile 2 after their discussions.
He said he went there with his sister, a man sent by the buyer collected the baby, and the woman transferred N2 million into his bank account.
The suspect added that he gave his sister N500,000 from the proceeds, while the remaining amount was used to organise their mother’s burial.
He claimed that after the burial, his sister began demanding the baby’s return, alleging that he had used charms to influence her to agree to the sale.
The suspect stated that his sister later claimed she was unaware the baby had been sold and reported the matter to the police, which led to his arrest.
He said he did not know the buyer personally and had no details about her residence, adding that attempts to reach her through the phone number used during the transaction had been unsuccessful.
Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of SCID, Dayo Akinbisehin, confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
Akinbisehin noted that the suspect would be arraigned in court once the investigation is concluded.
Similar Cases of Child Trafficking and Sale in Nigeria
Child trafficking and the sale of infants for financial gain have been documented in several parts of Nigeria in recent years.
In June 2024, a 35-year-old woman in Lagos was arrested by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for allegedly selling her two-week-old baby for N500,000 in the Agege area.
The buyer was also arrested after the mother reported the incident following a change of .
In October 2024, police in Ogun State arrested a couple who sold their newborn baby for N1.2 million in Abeokuta. The suspects claimed financial hardship and poverty drove the act; the buyer, a woman from Lagos, was also apprehended (Vanguard, October 2024).
In February 2025, NAPTIP operatives in Abuja rescued a one-month-old baby sold for N1.8 million in the Gwagwalada area. The mother’s sister facilitated the sale to a couple who claimed they wanted a child; all parties were arrested (Premium Times, February 2025).
In July 2025, a man in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was arrested for allegedly selling his sister’s three-week-old baby for N2.5 million. He claimed the money was needed for medical treatment; the buyer was traced and arrested after the family reported the case (The Nation, July 2025).
In December 2025, the Lagos State Police arrested a 28-year-old woman who sold her newborn for N1.5 million in the Ajegunle area. The suspect stated she acted due to extreme poverty after losing her job; the child was recovered, and the buyer was detained (Daily Trust, December 2025).
These cases often involve relatives or close associates exploiting vulnerable situations, with financial hardship frequently cited as the reason.
Authorities have emphasized the role of public reporting and inter-agency collaboration in rescuing victims and prosecuting offenders.
