Police parades Muslim cleric, hospital attendant for ‘stealing placenta’

There was a mild drama yesterday, as a Muslim cleric and a hospital attendant blamed one another over the alleged theft and sale of a baby placenta in Ilorin, Kwara State.

The police command paraded Mrs. Fatima Suleiman, a hospital attendant and Salaudeen Ibrahim, an Islamic cleric, for allegedly conspiring to buy and sell a baby placenta.

Mrs. Suleiman, who was working in a private hospital, was alleged to have sold the placenta to the Muslim cleric last week.

Police Commissioner Kofowora Bolaji said: “Upon successful caesarean operation, the doctor at the private hospital handed over the newborn baby to Suleiman Fatima of Agaka, Ilorin, to give to the biological father of the baby.

But instead, the suspect gave the placenta to Alfa Salaudeen Ibrahim to use for rituals, with the intention of getting monetary reward from him (Alfa Ibrahim).”

He said investigation was on, adding that after the investigation, the suspects would be arraigned in court.

Fielding questions from reporters, Alfa Ibrahim said: “I read Islamic Studies from Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin. I graduated in 2016.

“A month ago, Mrs. Suleiman came to me and asked if a baby placenta could be used for rituals and I answered in the affirmative. That was the last thing I discussed with her and she left. She said she is an attendant in a hospital and some people leave their babies’ placenta for them to dispose of.

“She came with one about five days ago. She dropped the placenta. Later I called her to come and take it away. She refused. Thereafter she called me that the incident had been reported to the police. I did not want to be implicated, so I threw the placenta into a nearby river. I thought with that I would get myself out of trouble.”

The hospital attendant denied collecting any money from the cleric, saying she is an intimate friend of his wife.

She said: “He did not give me any money, but he told me to help him get a baby placenta. Since his wife is my friend, I did it. I acceded to his request because of my closeness to his wife. This is the first time I will engage in such nefarious activity.

“I have three children and my children’s placenta was handed over to my husband. I never gave him my children’s placenta. When I called him, the story had taken a new twist. He said he had thrown the placenta into a river. He said the placenta would not be effective because the baby was delivered through caesarean section (CS).”

Source: The Nation Newspapers