A 26-year-old woman, Rachael, has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command for selling her two-week-old baby for N600, 000 over claims of financial hardship.
The baby was later resold for N4 million to a 42-year-old woman seeking to adopt a child.
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Edafe Bright, via a video shared on his social media handles on Tuesday, February 11, 2025, paraded Rachael, alongside two other accomplices at the command’s headquarters in Asaba, the state capital.
Rachael, a resident of Asaba and mother of another child, explained that she was struggling to care for both children alone, because the baby’s father denied paternity of the child, leaving her without any support.
“I gave the baby away because I am the only one taking care of the child,” she stated.
She recounted how she worked as a cleaner to survive during her pregnancy.
Eventually, she sought help from a woman who offered her N600, 000 in exchange for the baby. Rachael said she gave the woman N30, 000 as a token of appreciation.
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The unidentified woman who facilitated the sale admitted to reselling the baby for N3.5 million, keeping a significant portion of the proceeds.
She claimed that Rachael willingly gave up the child, stating she needed the money to start a business.
However, the 42-year-old woman who purchased the baby claimed she paid N4 million, adding that she was misled into believing it was a legal adoption.
“There is a lady in my area that I told I wanted to adopt a child legitimately,” she said.
She added that she was assured the necessary adoption documents were being processed.
The Delta State Police Command has vowed to get to the root of the case, ensuring justice is served.
Investigations are underway to determine the involvement of all parties and whether more people are linked to the illegal adoption scheme.
