…as Agency Begins Tracking of Other Syndicates Across South-West
By Udesinanna Stephen, Precious Oham
Following tipoff from sources, two persons alleged to be involved in the trading of a baby have been arrested by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in conjunction with the Ekiti State Liaison Office in Ilupeju-Ekiti.
This is part of efforts by the Director General of NAPTIP, Prof Fatima Waziri-Azi to rid the country of child trafficking.
Speaking with ROUNDOFFNEWS on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti, the Head of NAPTIP Ekiti Liason Office, Oladimeji Samson who spoke on behalf of the DG, said a team of operatives led by Mr Emuze John from NAPTIP Headquarters alongside officers of the agency in Ekiti arrested the suspects.
According to him, one of the suspects, Ifeoma Ejide allegedly sold a female baby to one Mrs Funmilayo Ibitoye, who was suspected to have bought the baby for N2 million.
Oladimeji said, “My colleagues came from Abuja for a case of a woman that have a baby factory at Owo, Ondo State and the woman was arrested in Owo and 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 United States. The woman that sold this baby has confessed that she is into baby factory.
“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. We asked her how long have you breastfeed the child, she said the first time there was no milk. This case have connection with others cases.”
During cross examination, Mrs Ejide confessed to the crime.
Meanwhile, Mrs Funmilayo, the suspected buyer in Ekiti denied the allegation, citing that she delivered the baby and was medically taken care of by Mrs Ejide.
She noted that she has waited for her baby for 25 years, revealing “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.
“After giving birth, the herb is N20,000. I paid through transfer. I have been paying through transfer. My sister followed me to Owo to deliver the baby.”
NAPTIP went further to disclose that they will carry out investigations to unravel the syndicates, who they alleged have been operational in the South-West region.