Baby Sale Scandal: Lagos Police Rescue Newborn Sold for N3m

Baby Sale Scandal: Lagos Police Rescue Newborn Sold for N3m

Baby sale scandals are no longer distant horrors—they are happening close to home. In Lagos, one teenage mother’s worst nightmare came true when her newborn was stolen and sold for N3 million.

Happiness, a 16-year-old girl, was struggling to survive after becoming pregnant. Her cousin, trying to help, introduced her to a woman named Nonye Osi. They believed Nonye would provide food, shelter, and care until she gave birth.

But what seemed like kindness quickly turned into betrayal.

Instead of offering protection, Nonye allegedly made secret plans with others to take the baby away. Police say she and her group moved Happiness to an unknown place. When her family found her again, the baby was missing.

Worried and heartbroken, the family rushed to the Ajah Police Division to report the situation. The Lagos State Police Command immediately opened a case and moved it to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for a deeper investigation.

Detectives didn’t waste time. Through determined work and careful tracking, they arrested five suspects believed to be behind the baby sale.

The suspects include Nonye Osi (female), Akintan Adedayo (female), Jimoh Bashiru (male), Elizabeth Bishop (female), and Bukola Oladapo (female).

Investigators later confirmed the shocking truth—these individuals had sold the baby for N3 million to someone in the Agemuwo area of Badagry.

Luckily, the story took a hopeful turn.

Police traced the buyer and recovered the baby, alive and healthy. Officers handed the child over to the Gender and Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, which is now caring for him.

CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Public Relations Officer, assured the public of continued efforts to protect the vulnerable. “The Lagos State Police Command remains committed to the protection of all residents, particularly the vulnerable,” he said.

While many are relieved that the child is safe, the story has left deep wounds—especially for Happiness.

She placed her trust in someone she believed was kind. That person, police say, used her for profit. Happiness had no money, no steady support, and no idea that the one offering help would betray her so deeply.

Now, her story has become a rallying point for communities and child rights advocates across Lagos.

People are demanding stronger action against human trafficking. They also want more support for teenage mothers like Happiness, who are often left to navigate pregnancy and motherhood alone.

“If there were safe homes and proper care, this wouldn’t have happened,” one concerned Lagosian said. “We need systems that protect our girls, not allow them to be preyed upon.”

Police say they are still investigating. They believe more people might be involved in the trafficking ring. For now, the five suspects are in custody and will face legal action.

This case has opened the eyes of many to the cruel market for babies that still exists in some parts of Nigeria.

It often starts with a promise—a home, food, or a better life. But it ends with mothers torn apart from their babies, and criminals walking away with bags of cash.

Thankfully, in this case, the ending is different. The baby was saved. The mother will be reunited with her child. And the police are committed to stopping others from going through the same pain.

The Lagos State Government has promised support for Happiness and her child. Officials say she will receive counseling and care as she prepares to begin again.

But even with that help, the trauma she endured won’t fade overnight.

What she experienced at 16 is something no mother should ever face. She trusted someone to guide her through pregnancy, but instead she was robbed of one of the most important moments in her life—holding her newborn for the first time.

This case is not just about crime. It’s about the failure to protect young girls. It’s about broken systems and people who exploit vulnerability.

But it’s also about hope.

It’s about what can happen when people speak up—like the cousin who went to the police. It’s about what can happen when authorities act fast and refuse to let evil win.

The baby, just weeks old, now represents something bigger—a chance to fix what’s broken, to fight for justice, and to protect the next child before they’re lost.

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Police are urging the public to be vigilant. “If you suspect something strange involving children, speak up,” said one officer. “We can’t fight what we don’t see.”

For now, Happiness is safe. Her child is safe. But the fight against baby sale crimes is far from over.

This case has reminded Lagos—and the nation—that every life matters. And that no price, no matter how high, should ever be placed on a child’s head.