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 over an alleged ₦13.5 million baby sale involving a Liberian national residing in Belgium.

The agency said the suspects included the owner of the facility, an alleged facilitator of the baby sale and a member of staff.

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 was carried out jointly by NAPTIP operatives from Abuja and Rivers State, in collaboration with officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, following intelligence about a suspected child-trafficking syndicate involved in the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children.

NAPTIP said preliminary investigations indicated that the Liberian national arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but allegedly took custody of three children within about one month.

The agency said intelligence available to it suggested that approximately ₦13.5 million changed hands in connection with the transfer of the three children.

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.

NAPTIP said the facility was sealed to preserve potential evidence while investigations continue.

The agency said the operation formed part of its nationwide crackdown on fraudulent maternity and healthcare facilities allegedly operating as so-called baby factories.

‘Full Wrath Of The Law’

NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, expressed concern over the alleged activities of some maternity and health facilities, particularly their suspected involvement in illegal adoption, child sales and trafficking.

She said, “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.

“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 further said the investigation remained active 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. 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 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 agency through its nearest zonal or state command.

NAPTIP said the latest operation followed an earlier directive by Bello to intensify surveillance of suspected maternity facilities across the country after intelligence suggested that some had become centres for fertility scams, child sales and trafficking. (Channels)

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