The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended five suspects – one man and four women – for allegedly stealing and selling a two-week-old baby for N3 million in Lagos.

Benjamin Hundeyin, the command's spokesperson, confirmed the arrests in a statement released on Thursday in Lagos. According to the statement, the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) conducted the operation following a complaint initially reported at Ajah Division on May 5.

"The complaint was originally lodged at Ajah Division on May 5, by an individual who reported that his 16-year-old cousin was impregnated by an unidentified person," Hundeyin stated.

Investigations revealed that due to financial constraints, the complainant's mother had entrusted the pregnant teenager to a guardian for accommodation until delivery. However, the situation took a criminal turn when the guardian allegedly conspired with four others to relocate the girl to an unknown location.

"When she was eventually found, she was without her pregnancy and the baby," the police spokesperson explained.

Following the transfer of the case to the SCID for discreet investigation, detectives uncovered that the suspects had conspired and sold the newborn baby boy for N3 million. Through what Hundeyin described as "painstaking efforts," police officers were able to trace and recover the stolen infant in the Agemuwo area of Badagry.

The police image maker emphasized that the command remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of all Lagos residents.

This case highlights the ongoing challenge of child trafficking in Nigeria, where infants and young children are sometimes sold for adoption, child labor, or other exploitative purposes. Authorities continue to combat such crimes through increased vigilance and public awareness campaigns.

The Lagos State Police Command has not yet disclosed when the suspects will be arraigned in court, but they are expected to face charges related to child abduction, trafficking, and conspiracy.