NAPTIP Seals Port Harcourt Maternity Home Over Alleged ₦13.5m Baby Sale

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 persons over an alleged ₦13.5 million baby-trafficking operation.

The agency said the suspects comprised the owner of the facility, an alleged facilitator of the transaction and a member of staff.

According to a statement issued by NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, the facility, located in the Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt, was allegedly operating from a residential apartment.

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

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NAPTIP said preliminary investigations revealed that a Liberian national residing in Belgium arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but allegedly took custody of three children within a month.

The agency said intelligence indicated that about ₦13.5 million had allegedly changed hands in connection with the transfer of the three children.

Investigators are currently working to establish the identities, whereabouts and welfare of the children, as well as determine their biological and legal parentage.

The agency is also tracing the financial transactions linked to the alleged transfers and investigating the roles of medical personnel and other individuals who may have facilitated the suspected criminal activities.

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

The agency explained that the operation formed part of its nationwide crackdown on fraudulent maternity and healthcare facilities allegedly operating as “baby factories.”

‘They Will Face Full Wrath Of Law’

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

Bello said she was particularly disturbed that foreign nationals were allegedly coming to Nigeria to patronise suspected criminal networks and procure children.

She assured that the agency had expanded its investigation to identify everyone connected to the alleged operation, adding that anyone found culpable would face the full wrath of the law.

She said the matter remained under active investigation and that all persons found connected to the alleged crime would be subjected to due process.

According to her, the agency would ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice, while the safety and welfare of the affected children remained its foremost priority.

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.

The agency said the latest operation followed Bello’s directive to intensify surveillance of suspected maternity facilities nationwide after intelligence suggested that some had become centres for fertility scams, child sales and trafficking.