Mother Reportedly Sells Baby to Offset N600,000 Debt in Lagos

Mother Reportedly Sells Baby to Offset N600,000 Debt in Lagos

A 33-year-old woman has been taken into custody after allegedly selling her infant daughter in a desperate attempt to repay a N600,000 loan.

The suspect, identified as Olaide Adekunle, was said to have travelled from Sango in Ogun State to Lagos, where she allegedly carried out the act.

According to accounts gathered by authorities, her husband raised the alarm after she left home on March 15 with their baby, Mordiat Rasak, but returned without the child. The development prompted a report to security agencies, leading to her arrest.

During interrogation, the woman reportedly admitted that she sold the baby in order to settle a debt owed to a microfinance institution.

Police sources said investigations are ongoing to trace the whereabouts of the child and ensure her safe recovery, while efforts are also being intensified to uncover any possible network linked to the transaction.

The incident comes amid renewed crackdown on illegal child trafficking operations in Lagos and surrounding areas.

In a related development, National Periscope had earlier reported how the operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Lagos dismantled a suspected baby factory in the Badagry axis, rescuing several victims and arresting two suspects.

The State Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, disclosed that the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering, culminating in a raid on a facility located in Okuju, Ilado area.

According to him, 28 victims were rescued during the operation, including pregnant women and children, while the alleged operators of the facility, Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu, were apprehended.

Some of the rescued victims told officials they had been lured with promises of financial rewards ranging from N1 million to N1.8 million in exchange for their babies after delivery.

Keshinro said the operation underscores the scale of organised exploitation targeting vulnerable women, adding that security agencies are intensifying efforts to dismantle such networks.

Authorities have urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities, as investigations into both cases continue.