The Delta State Police Command has arrested a supposed ‘Good Samaritan,’ Mrs Patrick, who promised to help one Rachel, who just gave birth, to take care of her baby, but instead sold the baby for N4m and remitted N600,000.
Patrick did not only lie about the situation of Rachel’s baby but also dedeceitfully collected N30,000 from Rachel out of the N600,000, while she kept N2.9m to herself.
The Delta State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Bright Edafe, speaking on the case, said: “We’ve come to realise that the business of baby factory is on the increase, and we are going to fight it head-on.
“The other day, we arrested three women who were about to transport three babies to Abuja through Asaba International Airport. Today, we have arrested three suspects, who were all involved in selling a baby who is just a few days old.
“The mother of the baby boy gave him to one Mrs Patrick, who sold the baby to another woman for the sum of N4m, although she claimed that it was N3.5m. sheSheught the child. But the buy insisted that it was N4m she bought it.
“The mystery about these things is that the lady who bought for N4m or N3.5m as she claimed, gave the money to the mother of the child, less than N600,000.
“When the child’s mother returned to people who were taking care of her during pregnancy, they were shocked to see her without a baby.
“When she was questioned, she said she sold the baby for N600,000. She and the seller were arrested. The baby’s mom claimed that she gave the child to Mrs Patrick to take care of, she never knew Mrs Patrick would take advantage of the situation to make money.”
Rachel, 25, already had a child, and when she had this new baby, she felt the financial burden of caring for the child would be too much for her. She decided to give the baby to Mrs Patrick.
She narrated: “I gave the baby away because I’m the only person fending for my first child; the baby’s father denied me. Aside from fending my child, I still have to struggle to care for myself.
“I used to go to people’s compound to see and do domestic chores so that my child and I would be able to eat. I explained my challenges to Mrs Patrick; I pleaded with her to help me because I do not have the money to take care of two children.
“She gave N600,0000. After that , she said that I should settle N30,000 for her stress. I was now left with N570,000.”
Mrs Patrick explained that she sold the baby for N3.5m and gave Rachel N600,000, after which she still cleverly collected N30,000 from Rachel out of the money.
She stated: “Rachel had earlier told me that she would start to start a business. After I gave N600,000, I had N2.9m left in my bank account. I sold the baby for N3.5m. The baby is 11 days old. Rachel refused to breastfeed the baby.”
According to the buyer, who is a 42-year-old woman, she bought the baby from Mrs Patrick for N4m. She said that it was a woman whom she told that she was desperate to adopt a child that connected her to Mrs Patrick.
“I told her that I wanted to adopt a baby legally and she collected N4m from me. She even lied to me that the baby was just a day old. She also told me that she was already processing all the legal documents concerning the adoption. She said that after the documents had been processed, she would bring them.”
