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 ₦13.5 million baby sale involving a Liberian national based in Belgium.
The suspects reportedly 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, located in the Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt, was allegedly operating from a residential apartment.
The operation was conducted by NAPTIP operatives from Abuja and Rivers State in collaboration with officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health. It followed intelligence indicating the existence of a suspected child-trafficking syndicate involved in the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children.
NAPTIP said preliminary investigations showed that the Liberian woman arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but allegedly took custody of three children within a period of about one month.
The agency said intelligence suggested that about ₦13.5 million was exchanged in connection with the transfer of the three children.
Investigators are currently working to establish the identities, whereabouts and welfare of the children, as well as determine their biological and legal parentage. They are also tracing financial transactions linked to the alleged transfers and investigating the roles of medical personnel and others who may have facilitated the suspected offences.
The facility has been sealed to preserve potential evidence as investigations continue.
NAPTIP said the operation was part of its nationwide crackdown on fraudulent maternity and healthcare facilities allegedly operating as “baby factories.”
‘Full Wrath of the Law’
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, expressed concern over the alleged involvement of some maternity and healthcare facilities in illegal adoption, child sales and trafficking.
She said the alleged patronage of such facilities by foreign nationals was particularly disturbing.
“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 case.
“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 remained ongoing and that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“I wish to reaffirm that the matter remains under active investigation and that all persons found connected to it will be subjected to due process under the law,” she added. “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.”
NAPTIP 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 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 had allegedly become centres for fertility scams, child sales and trafficking.
