Mother of 4 sells new-born baby for N350,000 – NAPTIP

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has arrested a mother of four for selling her newborn baby for N350,000.

She was among the 11 persons arrested by NAPTIP for suspected child trafficking, abduction and sale of children.

A release from NAPTIP stated that the suspects were arrested in different parts of Anambra state in a combined operation carried out with the support of the operatives of the Directorate of the State Services (DSS).

“One of the arrested suspects, Rosemary Okafor, 30 sold one of her four children, a new born baby, to one woman simply identified as Madam Pink at the cost of N350,000. She confessed to have sold the baby to be able to train the other three in school,” the statement said.

The suspects comprising eight women and three men were said to belong to a criminal syndicate that specialises in kidnapping and sale of babies across the country notably the states of the South-East, Lagos and Abuja.

Three children whose ages range from eight months to four years were recovered during the operation while scores of other children believed to have been trafficked by the gang were yet to be found.

Among the children was a two-year-old girl who was reportedly stolen from Lagos and another four-year-old boy who was allegedly stolen from his parents in Gudaba area of the Federal Capital Territory whose parents were yet to be traced.

“The two years old child whose four year old brother is yet to be recovered has been identified by her parents. She was stolen from Okpoko in Anambra State and was recovered in Lagos.”