By Damilare Adeleye
Two women identified as Ujunwa Una and Chinelo Igbechionwu have been arrested in connection with the sale of two newborns.
The suspects were apprehended by patrol officers from the Ojodu Division at Berger bus-stop, a key entry point into Lagos State, following a tip-off from a Good Samaritan.
SP Benjamin Hundeyin, Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, said operatives discovered the pair in possession of two newborn baby girls, approximately six days old, while travelling from Abia State on September 9, 2024.
Investigations revealed that the women were headed to meet a nurse in Lagos State, whom the babies’ mother promised to connect them with upon their arrival.
During questioning, Una and Igbechionwu admitted their involvement, stating they received One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000) for transporting the infants.
They explained that the mother sold the babies due to her inability to care for them.The case has been forwarded to the Command’s Gender Unit, where the newborns are now in the care of a motherless babies’ home for necessary medical evaluation.
Ongoing investigations aim to identify and apprehend additional conspirators, while the arrested women were arraigned on Thursday, September 19, 2024.
The statement read, “Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested one Ujunwa Una ‘f’ and Chinelo Igbechionwu ‘f’ for conspiracy and child sales.“The suspects were arrested by patrol officers from Ojodu Division stationed at Berger bus-stop, an entry point into Lagos State, whom had earlier been alerted about the suspects by a Good Samaritan. The suspects were found with two newborn baby girls, approximately six-days old, while travelling from Abia State on September 9, 2024.”
It added, “Investigations revealed that the suspects were en route to deliver the babies to one nurse in Lagos State whom the mother of the babies promised to link them up with only after they had arrived Lagos.
“Upon questioning, the suspects confessed to the crime, stating that they were paid the sum of One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira (₦150,000) for transportation of the babies to Lagos. The suspects added that the mother of the babies sold the babies because she could not give them proper care.”