Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Asaba, Delta State — The Delta State Police Command has arrested a nursing mother on allegations that she sold her two-month-old baby for ₦1,500,000, in a case that has intensified concerns about child trafficking and exploitation in the Niger Delta. The baby, whose mother initially reported a staged robbery and alleged abduction, has been rescued and is safe, police confirmed, as investigations continue into the disturbing incident.
According to a statement released by SP Bright Edafe, the Force Public Relations Officer for Delta State Command, Rita Ughale, a resident of Kokori community in Ethiope East Local Government Area, initially approached the Ekpan Police Division on 15 December 2025, claiming her infant had been snatched from her while travelling in a tricycle. But detectives quickly grew suspicious of her account after identifying inconsistencies in her story, prompting deeper inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the reported robbery.
Under further questioning, Ughale confessed that the abduction report was fabricated and acknowledged that she had sold her own baby to a couple — Osas Omijie (39) and Judith Omijie (30) — for ₦1,500,000. Police operatives took all three suspects into custody, and the infant was safely recovered and placed under protective supervision.
The command disclosed that the police are continuing their investigation to determine whether there were any additional accomplices involved and to pursue appropriate charges, which may include child trafficking and related offences under Nigerian law. Authorities emphasised that child trafficking and unlawful transfer of minors are serious criminal matters that undermine both child welfare and public safety.
Child rights advocates have raised alarm at the rising incidents of children being sold or trafficked for money, noting that such cases not only violate national laws but also international conventions that Nigeria has pledged to uphold. Detachments of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and other child protection agencies have in recent years worked alongside police to dismantle trafficking networks and rescue trafficked children across the country, but activists say continued vigilance and community awareness are crucial to combating the scourge.
Recent police reports show that child trafficking and illegal sales of minors, including newborns and toddlers, remain a troubling phenomenon in parts of the Niger Delta, with past cases involving both abducted and willingly transferred children for significant sums of money. In Delta State alone, other high-profile investigations have uncovered similar attempts to exploit infants for profit, reinforcing calls for stronger preventive measures and enhanced prosecution of offenders.
The Delta State Police Command urged members of the public to report any suspected trafficking activities or cases involving the unlawful transfer of minors, stressing that community cooperation remains essential in protecting vulnerable children. Authorities also highlighted the importance of social services and support systems for families facing economic hardship, which often intersect with exploitation and trafficking risks.
As the legal process unfolds, the suspects are expected to be charged and prosecuted in accordance with Nigerian criminal statutes governing child exploitation, abduction and trafficking, while the rescued infant receives appropriate care and rehabilitation support as mandated by law.
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