Woman held over sale of her 2 week-old baby

Police in Calabar, Cross River State have arrested a 20-year-old woman and five others over the sale of her two-week-old baby.

The suspects were paraded at the state police headquarters yesterday.

The woman, Maria Ekanem, who is from Odukpani Local Government Area of the state alleged that she was forced to sell her baby for N20,000.

Speaking to journalists, Maria said: “Poverty and lack of a place to stay after I gave birth made me sell my two-week-old baby girl for N20,000,” she said.

Maria said her boyfriend who got her pregnant asked her to abort the baby, but that a doctor assisted her by providing her with free antenatal care and food until she gave birth.

The other suspects include a 55-year old medical doctor, Okokon Offiong Okoho, proprietor of Evangel Clinic, of 2, Atu Street, a 70-yearold matron of Sadatoe Maternity located at Umoh Street and a nurse who works at the maternity. The girl, who reported the matter to the police is a Senior Secondary 2 student of NYSC Demonstration Secondary school, Calabar.

She said the baby’s mother, Maria, gave the child to the matron of the hospital, who in turn handed her over to the buyer.

“The woman gave Maria N20,000 and asked her to pay the nurse at Evangel Clinic and keep the balance for herself,” she said.