Operatives of the Gombe State Police Command have arrested officials of Gombe Local Government Area, who sold a one-year-old baby for N400,000.
This also led to the arrest of several individuals, including Tina Raphael, a 60-year-old woman from Anambra State.
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Raphael claimed that she adopted the baby from a suspected trafficker named Khadijah.
She said she paid the desired fee for the baby, citing her wish of having a girl child.
Denying any allegations in the purchase of the child, she emphasised that she only paid for the baby’s legal documentation.
Relatedly, another resident of Gombe, Ukamaka Ugo, asserted her innocence, stating that she paid N50,000 to Khadijah for baby items and medical expenses.
Ugo furthered that the payment was to legally adopt a child whose parent allegedly lack the resources for their baby’s well-being.
Meanwhile, Khadijah, despite the arrests, vehemently denied involvement in child theft or trafficking.
Khadijah noted that her role was to connect individuals with social welfare workers.
She claimed that the children involved had vulnerable parents who couldn’t adequately care for them.
The Gombe State Police Command revealed that Khadijah collaborated with 15 others, including the local government officials, on the alleged sale of babies.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, Mahid Abubakar, investigations confirmed the sale of two babies to Ugo, with funds transferred through intermediaries.
Abubakar, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, however assured that the police are working to recover the adopted children currently in Lagos and Anambra States.
The National Human Rights Commission warns that child adoption without due legal processes constitutes human trafficking.
The commission emphasised the importance of following proper procedures and court process in adoption cases.
The National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons is investigating the issue thoroughly before providing the media with adequate information.
