Oyo Police Rescue Baby Sold for US$1,500

Police in Oyo State, Nigeria, say they have rescued a one-month-old baby girl who was allegedly sold for ₦2 million (about US$1,500). Two suspects have been arrested, according to the state police command, in a case reported on Saturday 17 October 2026.

Child-trafficking cases draw close attention from US readers who follow adoption, family law and Nigeria’s large diaspora. The Oyo case began with a single complaint from a family.

What We Know

The announcement came from DSP Ayanlade, the Oyo State Police Public Relations Officer, known as the PPRO. The PPRO is the officer who speaks for the state police command in public.

BusinessDay and Blueprint, two Nigerian news outlets, carried the police statement on 17 October 2026. Both reports describe the rescue of the baby and the arrest of two suspects.

The two people arrested are Cecilia Amos, the baby’s 23-year-old mother, and Dr Adeleke Ebenezer, aged 40, who owns a health facility in Ido. Police say the baby girl was rescued, and the investigation continues.

The alleged buyer, Odunayo Folawewo, is still being sought by police. A fourth name, Hassan Oludunni, appears in the police account, but the reports do not list him among the two arrested.

Oyo State is in south-west Nigeria, and Ibadan is its capital city. Ido is a Local Government Area, the lowest tier of government in Nigeria, comparable to a county in the United States.

The Alleged Sale and the Timeline

Mary Amos, who lives in the Ogunwade area of Ido Local Government Area in Ibadan, reported the matter to police on Thursday 15 October 2026 at about 18:00. She told officers that her 23-year-old daughter, Cecilia Amos, gave birth to a baby girl on 6 September 2026 at Ebepraise Health Centre in Ido.

According to the complaint, the daughter disappeared with the baby about seven days after the delivery. The family then raised the matter with police.

Under interrogation, Cecilia Amos allegedly confessed that Dr Ebenezer, the owner of the health facility, and Hassan Oludunni facilitated the sale of the baby to Odunayo Folawewo. These are allegations attributed to her by police, not proven facts.

The alleged price was ₦2 million (about US$1,500 at ₦1,330 per US$, the EODHD rate on 17 October 2026). The naira, written with the symbol ₦, is Nigeria’s national currency.

Police allege the money was shared out, with Cecilia Amos receiving ₦1 million (about US$750). Ebenezer and Oludunni allegedly received ₦500,000 each (about US$375 each).

These figures are the police account of the allegations, not findings of a court. Every person named is a suspect, and each is presumed innocent until a court rules otherwise.

The complaint was made on Thursday evening, 15 October. Police have not said exactly when the baby was rescued.

What Is Not Known

Police have shared the outline of the case but not its legal detail. Several important questions remain open while the investigation continues.

It is not known what formal charges will be brought, or when any suspect will appear in court. Reports also do not say which court will hear the case.

The baby’s health and where she is now being cared for have not been detailed. Out of respect for the child, this article gives no further detail about her.

Hassan Oludunni’s whereabouts are not reported, because reports name him among those accused but not among those arrested. It is also not known whether the alleged buyer, Odunayo Folawewo, has been found.

Beyond the name given by police, nothing is reported about the buyer’s identity or background. Nor is it known whether anyone else is being investigated.

Police have not given a motive beyond the allegations summarised above. This article does not speculate about the reasons behind any person’s actions.

What It Means for Travelers and US Readers

This is a local criminal investigation in one Nigerian state, and the police statement, as reported, does not address visitors. It will matter most to readers who follow child-protection cases in Nigeria.

Child trafficking is a criminal offence in Nigeria, and police say this case is still under investigation. Readers should wait for formal charges and court records before drawing conclusions.

Nigerians in the diaspora with relatives in Oyo State may follow the case through local outlets such as BusinessDay and Blueprint. Wider background on the country is available in the Rio Times coverage of Nigeria.

Families considering adoption from Nigeria should use only official legal channels and licensed agencies. Anyone with concerns about a child’s safety can contact the police or a recognised child-protection body.

The Oyo case began with a family complaint to police. What happens next depends on the charges and the court process, neither of which has been announced.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened in the Oyo baby sale case?

Oyo State police say they rescued a one-month-old baby girl who was allegedly sold for ₦2 million (about US$1,500). Two suspects were arrested, and the investigation continues.

Who has been arrested in Oyo?

Police arrested Cecilia Amos, the baby’s 23-year-old mother, and Dr Adeleke Ebenezer, 40, who owns a health facility in Ido. The alleged buyer, Odunayo Folawewo, is still being sought.

How much was the baby allegedly sold for?

Police allege the sale was for ₦2 million (about US$1,500 at ₦1,330 per US$, the EODHD rate on 17 October 2026). They allege Cecilia Amos received ₦1 million (about US$750), and two others ₦500,000 each (about US$375 each).

Has anyone been convicted?

No. All those named are suspects, and a court has not ruled on the case.

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