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 people in connection with an alleged ₦13.5 million baby-selling operation involving a Liberian national resident in Belgium.
News Point Nigeria reports that the suspects include the owner of the facility, an alleged facilitator of the transactions and a staff member, following a joint operation by NAPTIP operatives from Abuja and Rivers State in collaboration with officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Vincent Adekoye, the facility, located in the Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt, was allegedly operating from a residential apartment.
The operation followed intelligence received by the agency concerning a suspected child-trafficking syndicate allegedly involved in the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children through maternity and healthcare facilities.
NAPTIP said preliminary findings revealed that the Liberian national allegedly arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but took custody of three children within a period of about one month.
The agency further disclosed that intelligence gathered during the investigation indicated that approximately ₦13.5 million may have exchanged hands in connection with the transfer of the three children.
Investigators are now working to establish the identities and whereabouts of the children and determine their current welfare, as well as establish their biological and legal parentage.
The agency said the investigation would also involve tracing financial transactions allegedly linked to the transfers and determining the roles played by medical personnel and other individuals who may have facilitated the suspected criminal activities.
NAPTIP said the maternity facility was immediately sealed to preserve evidence and prevent interference with the ongoing investigation.
The agency explained that the operation was part of its nationwide crackdown on fraudulent maternity and healthcare facilities allegedly operating as so-called “baby factories”, where children are reportedly procured, sold or unlawfully transferred under the guise of legitimate medical or adoption arrangements.
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, expressed concern over the alleged involvement of some maternity and healthcare facilities in illegal adoption, child sales and human trafficking.
She particularly condemned the alleged involvement of foreign nationals in patronising such facilities.
“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.
She added that the agency had expanded its investigation to identify everyone connected to the alleged operation, assuring that those found culpable would face the law.
“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 said.
Bello stressed that the investigation remained active, noting that every individual found to have played a role in the alleged trafficking operation would be subjected to due process and prosecuted where sufficient evidence is established.
“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. 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.
The NAPTIP chief also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly 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 agency said the latest operation followed an earlier directive by Bello for intensified surveillance of suspected maternity facilities nationwide after intelligence indicated that some facilities were allegedly being used as centres for fertility scams, child sales and trafficking.