The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has sealed a maternity facility in the Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following allegations of baby sale and child trafficking.
The agency also arrested the owner of the facility, who was described as an alleged facilitator, alongside another staff member in connection with the investigation.
NAPTIP disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the operation followed actionable intelligence concerning a suspected child trafficking syndicate allegedly operating from the maternity.
According to the agency, the facility was being operated from a residential apartment and was suspected of being used for the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children.
Preliminary investigations reportedly revealed that a Liberian national residing in Belgium arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but allegedly took custody of three children within a period of about one month.
NAPTIP further alleged that approximately N13.5 million changed hands in connection with the transfer of the three children and other activities involving members of staff at the facility.
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Operatives from NAPTIP’s Abuja and Rivers State commands, working with officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, conducted a coordinated operation at the facility. The premises was subsequently sealed to preserve evidence and protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation.
The agency said forensic and documentary investigations were underway to establish the identities, whereabouts and welfare of the children, as well as determine their biological and legal parentage.
Investigators are also tracing financial transactions and examining the roles allegedly played by medical personnel and other individuals who may have facilitated the suspected illegal procurement and transfer of the children.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed concern over the alleged involvement of some maternity and healthcare facility operators in illegal adoption, baby selling and child trafficking.
Bello particularly condemned the alleged involvement of foreign nationals in the procurement of children in Nigeria, describing the development as disturbing and unacceptable.
She assured that the agency had widened its investigation and would ensure that anyone found culpable faced the law, while stressing that due process would be followed.
The NAPTIP boss added that the safety and welfare of the affected children remained the agency’s primary concern.
She 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 nearest NAPTIP zonal or state command.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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