Deborah Akinyosoye
Operatives of the State Criminal Investigation Department of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested at least five suspects in connection with the abduction and sale of a two-week-old baby boy.
This was disclosed in a statement released on Thursday by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin.
According to the statement, “The State Criminal Investigation Department of the Lagos State Police Command has arrested five suspects for abduction and child stealing.”
The case was initially reported at the Ajah Police Division on May 5, 2025, by a man who raised concern over the disappearance of his 16-year-old cousin, identified as Miss Happiness.
The complainant told the police that the teenager had been impregnated by an unknown person and, due to financial hardship, was handed over to one Nonye Osi for shelter during the pregnancy.
“However, Nonye Osi conspired with others to relocate Miss Happiness to an unknown location. When she was eventually found, she was no longer pregnant, and the baby was missing,” the police statement said.
The matter was subsequently transferred to the SCID for further investigation, which led to the arrest of five individuals: Nonye Osi (female), Akintan Adedayo (female), Jimoh Bashiru (male), Elizabeth Bishop (female), and Bukola Oladapo (female).
The suspects were alleged to have conspired and sold the baby for N3m.
Following what the police described as “painstaking efforts,” detectives were able to trace the stolen baby to Agemuwo, in the Badagry area of Lagos, where the child was successfully recovered.
“The two-week-old baby boy was found safe and sound. The Gender/Anti-Human Trafficking Unit is currently handling the case and attending to the baby, who is in good health, pending his reunion with his biological mother,” Hundeyin stated.
The police noted that investigations were ongoing to ensure all those involved are brought to justice, adding that the command remains committed to the safety and protection of residents.
A similar incident was reported in 2024 when a 39-year-old man, Yusuf Umar of Dagu village in Warji LGA of Bauchi State, was arrested by the State Police Command for attempting to sell his 5-year-old daughter for an agreed sum of N1.5m.