The Anambra State Government said it apprehended one Oluchukwu Nwosu, 45, who allegedly sold her three-month-old grandchild for N50,000.
The Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, disclosed this at a news briefing on Sunday.
Obinabo, who spoke in Awka, the state capital, said that the baby had been rescued following a consistent intelligence report and surveillance that lasted almost a month.
She said: “The rescue operation followed a report by Ijeoma Nwosu, who claimed that her mother, Oluchukwu, forcefully sold her baby soon after he was born and refused to tell her the baby’s whereabouts.
“Following receipt of the allegation, the ministry immediately took action to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
“Four suspects involved in the crime have been apprehended and would be handed over to the police for questioning and further investigation.
“It is sad that the baby is looking sick and underweight.
“According to the buyer, she has no money to buy proper baby food and she resorted to feeding the baby with soya bean powder.”
The Commissioner frowned at the continued practice of illegal adoption in the state in spite of the government’s efforts to put an end to it.
She warned that perpetrators of unlawful adoption would be made to face legal actions.
Speaking with newsmen, Oluchukwu pleaded for forgiveness, saying the baby she sold was the third child her daughter, Ijeoma, had outside wedlock.