The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has shut down a residential apartment believed to be an illegal maternity run by a child-trafficking group in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt.
A statement from the Agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Vincent Adekoye, was released on Thursday. It mentioned that NAPTIP also arrested the owner of the facility, who is suspected of being involved in the alleged baby sale, along with another staff member.
The statement is titled ‘NAPTIP Seals High-Profile Maternity in Port Harcourt for Alleged Baby Sale, Trafficking Involving a Foreign National.’
Adekoye explained that the operation was a joint effort by NAPTIP and the Rivers State Ministry of Health. This followed reliable information about a criminal group allegedly involved in the illegal sale and transfer of children.
The facility is located in Elelenwo, an area known for having many prominent health centers in Rivers State.
“Preliminary investigation shows that a Liberian national living in Belgium came to Nigeria without any proof of pregnancy. Yet, within about a month, this person allegedly took custody of three children under suspicious circumstances. Intelligence available to the Agency suggests that around N13.5m was involved in the transfer of these three children and other staff of the maternity,” Adekoye stated.
“Acting on this information, NAPTIP operatives from Abuja and Rivers State, along with officials from the Rivers State Ministry of Health, carried out a coordinated operation at the suspected facility. They sealed the premises to protect the scene and gather potential evidence while investigations are ongoing.
“Investigators are now looking into forensic and documentary evidence to find out the identities, locations, and welfare status of the children. They want to confirm their biological and legal parents, identify all people involved in their transfer, and trace the money and other factors related to their alleged procurement,” the statement added.
NAPTIP is also investigating if medical personnel or other individuals helped facilitate this suspected crime.
This incident follows a recent directive from NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Bello, who ordered better monitoring of self-proclaimed maternity centers across Nigeria. This was after receiving credible intelligence that many of these places have become centers for fraud involving child sales and trafficking.
Bello expressed concern about the increasing involvement of foreign nationals in these criminal activities.
“I am particularly disturbed that foreign nationals now come to Nigeria to engage with these suspected criminals and buy children as if they are mere commodities. This is sad and completely unacceptable,” she said.
Bello continued, “We are expanding our efforts to catch everyone involved in this case, and they will face the full force of the law. I want to assure you that this matter is still under active investigation and everyone connected to it will go through due process.”
She emphasized that the safety and welfare of the children involved is NAPTIP’s top priority. Bello urged Nigerians to stay alert. “Members of the public should report any suspected cases of child trafficking, illegal adoption, baby-selling, or other forms of exploitation to NAPTIP at their nearest zonal or state command.”
Bello stated that the agency will keep working to shut down illegal maternity and healthcare facilities acting as “baby factories” all over the country.
Baby factories have a long history of keeping vulnerable pregnant women in unofficial facilities, selling their babies to buyers, including couples seeking children through illegal means and, increasingly, foreign nationals, according to findings from the agency.
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