By Desire Emmanuel
The mother of a newborn baby was among four women arrested after she was said to have sold the baby for N1.7 million and collected N350,000 as advance payment.
The mother, Peace Elijah Moses, aged 25 years, was arrested by men of the Anambra State Police Command following intelligence reports gathered. Others involved in the criminal act are Elizabeth Okafor, aged 62 years; Esther Nweke (48), and Ngozi Maanfa (45).
According to the command, its operatives attached to the Rapid Response Squad, in the early hours of Tuesday, October 28, stormed a location identified as Mama Maternity situated at Ifite-Awkuzu, Oyi Local Government Area.
During the raid of the facility, the operatives found the one-week-old baby girl and arrested the four women in connection with a case of conspiracy and child trafficking.
The command added that preliminary investigation revealed that the three women conspired among themselves and purchased the baby girl for the sum of ₦1.7 million from the mother and had reportedly paid an advance sum of ₦350,000.00 to her.
“The baby girl has been rescued and is currently under protective care, while the Commissioner of Police has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) Gender Unit, Awka, for more investigation and necessary prosecution,” the command disclosed.
