Agorehmi Bright, Reporting
THE National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has sealed a suspected illegal maternity facility in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and arrested three individuals over an alleged baby trafficking operation valued at ₦13.5 million involving a Liberian national residing in Belgium.
The suspects include the facility owner, an alleged facilitator of the baby sale, and a member of staff, according to the agency.
The property, located in the Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt, was allegedly operating as a maternity home from a residential apartment, NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Vincent Adekoye, confirmed in a statement issued on Thursday.
The operation, carried out jointly by NAPTIP operatives from Abuja and Rivers State alongside officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Health, followed intelligence reports about a suspected child-trafficking syndicate involved in the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children.
Preliminary investigations have revealed that the Liberian national arrived in Nigeria with no evidence of pregnancy but allegedly took custody of three children within the space of one month. Intelligence suggests 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 the financial transactions linked to the alleged transfers and establish the roles played by medical personnel and other individuals who may have facilitated the suspected criminal activity.
NAPTIP confirmed that the facility was sealed to preserve potential evidence while investigations continue, forming part of the agency’s nationwide crackdown on fraudulent maternity and healthcare facilities allegedly operating as so-called “baby factories.”
‘Full Wrath Of The Law’
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, expressed grave concern over the alleged activities of some maternity and health facilities, particularly their suspected involvement 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,” Bello said. “This is sad and totally unacceptable. 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 reaffirmed that the investigation remains active and that anyone found culpable will be prosecuted in accordance with the law, adding: “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.”
The NAPTIP chief 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 the agency through its nearest zonal or state command.
The latest operation follows an earlier directive by Bello to intensify surveillance of suspected maternity facilities across the country after intelligence suggested that some had become centres for fertility scams, child sales and trafficking.
