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

Agency arrests three suspects, investigates alleged child-trafficking network

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 living in Belgium.

The suspects include the owner of the facility, an alleged facilitator and a staff member.

According to NAPTIP, the facility, located in Elelenwo, was operating from a residential apartment and was allegedly linked to the procurement and unlawful transfer of children.

The operation was conducted by NAPTIP officials from Abuja and Rivers State in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, following intelligence on a suspected child-trafficking network.

Liberian Woman Allegedly Took Custody Of Three Children

Preliminary investigations reportedly showed that the Liberian national arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but allegedly took custody of three children within a period of about one month.

NAPTIP said intelligence indicated that about ₦13.5 million may have 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 agency is also tracing financial transactions linked to the alleged transfers and investigating the possible involvement of medical personnel and other individuals.

Facility Sealed As Investigation Continues

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

The agency said the operation forms part of its nationwide crackdown on suspected illegal maternity facilities and so-called baby factories involved in child trafficking, illegal adoption and baby sales.

NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, expressed concern over the alleged involvement of foreign nationals in the procurement of children in Nigeria.

She warned that anyone found to have participated in the alleged activities would face prosecution in accordance with the law.

“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.”

Bello also stressed that the welfare and safety of the affected children remain the agency’s priority.

NAPTIP urged members of the public to report suspected cases of child trafficking, illegal adoption, baby-selling and other forms of exploitation to the agency.

The investigation remains ongoing, and the allegations against the arrested suspects have not yet been proven in court.