Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has sealed a maternity facility in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, and arrested three suspects over an alleged N13.5 million baby sale involving a Liberian national residing in Belgium. The joint operation, carried out by NAPTIP operatives from Abuja and Rivers State in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, targeted a suspected child trafficking syndicate operating from a residential apartment in the Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt .
The agency arrested the owner of the facility, an alleged facilitator of the baby sale, and a member of staff following intelligence that the maternity was being used for the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children . According to preliminary investigations, the Liberian national arrived in Nigeria without any evidence of pregnancy but allegedly took custody of three children within about one month, raising serious questions about how the children were obtained .
NAPTIP said intelligence available to the agency indicated that approximately N13.5 million changed hands in connection with the transfer of the three children . The facility was subsequently sealed to preserve the scene and safeguard potential evidence while investigations continue. 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 .
Reacting to the development, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, expressed deep concern over the fraudulent activities of some health centres, particularly the alleged involvement of foreign nationals in procuring children through suspected criminal networks in Nigeria. "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 vowed that the agency would spread its dragnet to apprehend all those involved, assuring that they would face the full wrath of 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 added . Bello reaffirmed that the matter remained under active investigation and that all persons found connected to it would be subjected to due process under the law . She assured that anyone found culpable would be prosecuted while the safety and welfare of the affected children would remain the agency's foremost priority .
The agency 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 latest operation follows an earlier directive by the NAPTIP boss ordering improved surveillance of suspected maternity facilities after intelligence suggested that many had morphed into fertility scam centres and child trafficking hubs .
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