Couple arrested during naming ceremony of baby bought from traffickers

Lagos State Police Command rescues a trafficked two-month-old baby boy from a couple, Mr. and Mrs. James Uwam, during the child’s naming ceremony.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, stated on Saturday that the couple had paid N2,350,000 to acquire the baby from suspected child trafficker Loretta Nelson. Nelson had purchased the baby from a pastor, Peter Udoh, for N1,450,000.

Hundeyin explained that Udoh had initially bought the baby for N500,000 from another suspected child trafficker, Gloria Sunday, who allegedly stole the baby on July 11, 2024. The theft prompted the baby’s mother to report the incident to the police.

Following the report, the police took swift action, arresting Sunday, who then led them to the other suspects involved in the crime, with detectives from the Oko Oba Division carrying out the arrests.

Hundeyin said, “Detectives swung into action, leading to the arrest of Gloria Sunday, who confessed during interrogation to selling the baby for N500,000 to Pastor Peter Udoh.

“Pastor Udoh, who was subsequently arrested in Ikene Town, Ogun State, admitted to reselling the child for N1,450,000 to Loretta Nelson, who was then apprehended in Festac Town, Lagos.”

Nelson confessed to selling the baby for N2,350,000 to Mr. and Mrs. James Uwam, who were apprehended during the naming ceremony of the stolen child.

Hundeyin noted that investigations are ongoing, and the suspects will be arraigned in court following the investigation.