By Editor
Operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP) Ekiti State Leasing Office, has confirmed the arrest of two persons over their involvement in buying and selling of a three months old baby in Ilupeju -Ekiti, Oye local government area of the State.
The Head of NAPTIP Ekiti Liason Office, Mr Oladimeji Samson, said the operation led by a senior officer of the agency led by one Mr Emuze John from the NAPTIP Headquarters Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) alongside officers of the agency in Ekiti arrested the suspects.
According to the Ekiti State NAPTIP helmsman, 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 who came from Abuja in an operations concerning a case of a woman that have a baby factory in Owo, Ondo State, the woman who allegedly owned the baby factory was arrested in Owo and from there where she sold the baby, while other syndicate were traced and arrested in Ekiti State.
“The buyer whose husband based in United State America alledged have bought the baby at the rate of N2 million only paid the advance of the N700,000 naira only, the woman is currently in our custody has also to commission of the crime and allegedly owned a baby factory.
“This issue of buying and selling of babies is rampant and common in Ekiti State and States within the Southwest region. Most of these people (baby buyers) use herbs to hypnotized their victims and they are told not to visit any hospital so that they can’t be tracked to anywhere. We asked her how long have you breastfeed the child, she said the first time, there was no milk in her breast, then on subsequent breastfeeding water will surely come out of the breast”
In an interrogations with Journalists, one of the suspected syndicate and alledged seller of the baby who gave her name as Ifeoma Ejide, said she do normally treat infidelity and assist women who want to be delivered in herbal method adding that; “I give women herbs especially those looking for baby and any women nursing baby.”
Meanwhile, Mrs Funmilayo, the suspected buyer in Ekiti State denied the allegation, citing that she delivered the baby and was medically taken care of by Mrs Ejide.
She noted that after her marriage, she waited for her baby for almost 25 years before vsje could have a child. “They said I buy baby, I did not buy any baby. I was arrested in Ilupeju-Ekiti. Although, I didn’t give birth in the hospital but at the woman’s house in Owo Ondo State. We normally buy herbs from her in 3 months for N100,000 and 300,000 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 claimed that they will carry out investigations to unravel the syndicates, who they alleged have been in operations in the Soutwest region.