The Kwara Police command on Tuesday arrested a Muslim cleric and a nursing attendant in one of the private hospitals in Ilorin for allegedly selling the placenta of a new born that was delivered in the hospital.

It was gathered that, the placenta was sold by the nurse to the cleric at the cost of N20,000 for money ritual.

According to findings, the duo were arrested at their different locations in Ilorin on Monday, following a report to the police command by the medical officer in charge of the private hospital.

Investigation further reveals that the incident happened at a private medical hospital, knows as Capstone hospitallocated at Oke-Erin area of Ilorin when the father of the new born baby, Jimoh Abdulfatah demanded for the placenta of his new born baby from the hospital after delivery.

Following thorough interrogations by the police, according to sources close to the police, the nurse attendant, however, confirmed that she gave the placenta to one Muslim cleric in the town and the cleric was subsequently arrested too.

The cleric later confirmed to have received the placenta after series of interrogation at the police headquarters, but couldn’t produce it because he had thrown it into the water near his house.

It was also gathered that the cleric, whose wife is also heavily pregnant was said to have told his accusers that the placenta was useless for the purpose he wanted to use it for because the baby was delivered through operation unlike if the baby had been delivered through normal delivery when the placenta would have been useful.

When contacted, the state police Public Relations Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ajayi Okasanmi who confirmed the arrests of two suspects in connection to the incident said the two suspects are now helping police in its further investigations over the issue.

He however said that, the duo will be arraigned in court after the completion of police investigations on the issue.

•Excerpted from a Daily Trust report