Acting on information provided by informants, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in collaboration with the Ekiti State Liaison Office in Ilupeju-Ekiti, has apprehended two individuals suspected to be involved in the illicit trade of a baby.

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Speaking with a correspondent on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the Head of NAPTIP Ekiti Liaison Office, Oladimeji Samson, disclosed that a team of operatives, led by Mr. Emuze John from NAPTIP Headquarters, along with officers of the agency in Ekiti, successfully arrested the suspects.

According to Samson, one of the suspects, Ifeoma Ejide, is alleged to have sold a female baby to a woman identified as Mrs. Funmilayo Ibitoye, who is suspected to have purchased the baby for N2 million.

Providing further details, Samson stated, “My colleagues came from Abuja for a case of a woman that has a baby factory at Owo, Ondo State, and the woman was arrested in Owo. From there, they traced where she sold the baby. The buyer bought the baby at the rate of N2 million, and she is yet to pay all while her husband is based in the United States. The woman that sold this baby has confessed that she is into a baby factory.”

Samson highlighted the prevalence of such cases in Ekiti and the use of herbs by many baby buyers to avoid detection. He noted, “This issue is rampant and common in Ekiti. Most of these people (baby buyers) use herbs, and they are told not to visit any hospital so that they can’t be tracked.”

During interrogation, Ejide confessed to the crime.

On the other hand, Funmilayo, the suspected buyer in Ekiti, denied the allegation, asserting that she delivered the baby and received medical care from Ejide. She explained, “They said I buy baby, I did not buy any baby. I was arrested in Ekiti. Although I didn’t give birth in the hospital but at the woman’s house in Owo (referring to Ifeoma). We normally buy herbs from her in 3 months for N100,000 and N300,000 for 9 months.”