The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has sealed a residential apartment suspected of being converted into an illegal maternity facility by a child-trafficking syndicate.

🇳🇬 Here's What Happened

This feat was achieved through an intelligence-led operation involving operatives of the agency and officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, leading to the arrest of the facility owner, the facilitator in the alleged baby sale saga and one other member of staff of the maternity.

According to a statement issued on Thursday via the agency’s X handle by the agency’s Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Mr Vincent Adekoye, the arrest followed actionable intelligence on a criminal network allegedly involved in the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children.

The hospital, one of the “high-profile health centres in the oil-rich state,” is located in the Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.

📌 Key Details

NAPTIP disclosed that an unnamed female Liberian national, but residing in Belgium, had Nigeria at a point in time, and within a month, “allegedly took custody of three children under circumstances that have raised serious concern.”

Investigations later revealed that the transfer of the three children culminated in a transaction worth ₦13.5 million.

The statement read, “In continuation of its nationwide clampdown on the activities of some suspected fraudulent illegal Maternity and Health Care facilities that have metamorphosed to “baby factories” across the country, operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, have sealed up a residential apartment suspected of being converted into an illegal maternity facility by a child-trafficking syndicate.

“The joint operation, which led to the arrest of the owner of the facility, the facilitator in the alleged baby sale saga, and one other member of staff of the maternity, followed actionable intelligence on a criminal network allegedly involved in the procurement, sale, and unlawful transfer of children.

“Acting on this intelligence, NAPTIP operatives (Abuja and Rivers State) and officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health carried out a coordinated operation at the suspected facility, sealing the premises to preserve the scene and safeguard potential evidence pending the outcome of investigations.

“In the latest investigation, preliminary investigation indicates that a Liberian national who resides in Belgium arrived in Nigeria with no evidence of pregnancy, yet within roughly one month allegedly took custody of three children under circumstances that have raised serious concern. Intelligence available to the agency indicates that approximately ₦13.5 million changed hands in connection with the transfer of the three children and other members of staff of the maternity.

📰 Source: Punch Nigeria