NAPTIP Seals Port Harcourt Maternity Over Alleged N13.5m Baby Sale
By Chibuzo Obidike
PORT HARCOURT — The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, has sealed a maternity facility in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, over an alleged baby-selling and child trafficking operation.
The agency said its operatives, working with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, arrested the facility’s owner, an alleged facilitator and another staff member following intelligence on a suspected child trafficking syndicate.
Preliminary investigations reportedly showed that a Liberian national resident in Belgium arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but allegedly took custody of three children within about one month.
NAPTIP said about N13.5 million allegedly changed hands in connection with the transfer of the children and other activities linked to the facility.
The maternity, reportedly operating from a residential apartment, was sealed to preserve evidence as investigators conduct forensic and documentary inquiries into the children’s identities, welfare, biological parentage and legal status.
NAPTIP Director General, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed concern over the alleged involvement of some healthcare facilities in baby selling, illegal adoption and child trafficking.
She warned that everyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law, while stressing that the agency’s immediate priority is the safety and welfare of the affected children.
Investigations are ongoing.
