Photo: 20yr old girl arrested by Cross River State police for selling her 2 week old baby for N20k

Maria Ekanem sold her two week old baby to an Abuja-based woman for N20,000. According to a report by Vanguard, the 20-year-old school drop out from Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State, was arrested by the police along with her accomplices. 

 

Her boyfriend got her pregnant and asked her to abort the baby. However, a doctor agreed to help her with free antenatal care and food and in exchange she agreed to sell her baby after delivery.

Paraded along with Ms Ekanem were the medical doctor, Okokon Offiong Okohon,55, the proprietor of Evangel Clinic,of 2, Atu Street, a 70-year-old matron of Sadatoe Maternity located at Umoh Street and a nurse. 

 

Maria Elemi, a Senior Secondary School student of NYSC Demonstration School, Calabar, leaked the plan to sell the baby to the police.

     "When I came back from school on Monday, Maria told me she wanted to take the baby to the parents of the boy who impregnated her since she can no longer cope with taking care of the baby," said Miss Elemi, whose parents Maria Ekanem was living with after delivery.

 

Maria Ekanem gave the baby to the matron when they got to Inyang Street in Calabar South. The matron in turn handed her to the buyer.

     "The woman gave Maria N20,000 and asked her to pay the nurse at the Evangel Clinic and use the rest for herself."  

 

Miss Elemi became suspicious when the driver of the SUV told the woman with the baby that her husband said she should take her to the airport to catch a flight to Abuja.

 

     "I started wondering why they should take the girl to the airport when the boyfriend to Maria and her parents live here in Calabar," Maria stated.

 

Cross River Police Public Relations Officer, ASP John Eluu, who paraded Maria along with the doctor and Matron, said detectives swung into action and arrested the suspects immediately information got to them at the Federal Housing Police Station.

Eluu added that investigations is currently ongoing to apprehend the woman who bought the baby.

Source: Vanguard