The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has sealed a suspected illegal maternity facility in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and arrested three people over an alleged ₦13.5 million baby sale involving a Liberian national residing in Belgium.
The suspects include the owner of the facility, an alleged facilitator of the transaction and a staff member.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, the facility was allegedly operating from a residential apartment.
The operation was conducted by NAPTIP operatives from Abuja and Rivers State alongside officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, following intelligence on a suspected child-trafficking syndicate allegedly involved in procuring, selling and unlawfully transferring children.
NAPTIP said preliminary investigations showed that the Liberian national arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but allegedly took custody of three children within about one month.
The agency said intelligence indicated that approximately ₦13.5 million changed hands in connection with the transfer of the three children.
Investigators are now working to establish the identities, whereabouts and welfare of the children, as well as determine their biological and legal parentage.
The investigation will also trace financial transactions linked to the alleged transfers and determine the roles of medical personnel and other individuals who may have facilitated the suspected activities.
NAPTIP said the facility was sealed to preserve potential evidence while investigations continue.
NAPTIP Vows Prosecution
The agency said the operation was part of its nationwide crackdown on fraudulent maternity and healthcare facilities allegedly operating as so-called baby factories.
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, expressed concern over the alleged involvement of some maternity and health facilities in illegal adoption, child sales and trafficking.
“I am particularly disturbed that foreign nationals now come to Nigeria to patronise these suspected criminal elements and procure children like a common object of trade across the border. This is sad and totally unacceptable.”
Bello said the agency had expanded its investigation to identify everyone connected to the alleged operation.
“We have spread our dragnet to fish out all those involved in this case, and they shall be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
She stressed that the investigation remains ongoing and that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“The Agency will ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice, while the safety and welfare of the affected children remain its foremost priority,” she added.
Bello urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of child trafficking, illegal adoption, baby-selling and other forms of exploitation to NAPTIP through its nearest zonal or state command.
The agency said the latest operation followed an earlier directive by Bello to intensify surveillance of suspected maternity facilities nationwide after intelligence indicated that some were allegedly being used for fertility scams, child sales and trafficking.
Source: NAPTIP
