- Safiu Kehinde
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has burst a baby factory syndicate allegedly responsible for the sales of three kids for N13.5 million to a Liberian woman in Rivers State.
In said continuation of its nationwide clampdown on the activities of some suspected fraudulent illegal Maternity and Health Care facilities, NAPTIP, in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, stormed and sealed up the residential apartment suspected of being converted into an illegal maternity facility by the child-trafficking syndicate.
This was made known in a statement issued on Thursday by the agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations Unit, Vincent Adekoye.
According to Adekoye, the joint operation with the Rivers State Ministry of Health 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.
The operation followed actionable intelligence on a criminal network allegedly involved in the procurement, sale, and unlawful transfer of children at the facility claimed to be a hospital located in the Elelenwo area of the Rivers State Capital, Port Harcourt.
Adekoye disclosed that the facility is widely regarded as one of the high-profile health Centres in the oil-rich State.
Meanwhile, preliminary investigation indicated that the 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 NAPTIP indicates that approximately N13.5 million changed hands in connection with the transfer of the three children and other members of staff of the maternity.
Acting on the 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.
Adekoye said investigators are now conducting forensic and documentary inquiries to establish the identities, whereabouts and welfare status of the children.
They are also working on determining their biological and legal parentage, identify all persons involved in their procurement and transfer; and trace the financial transactions and other circumstances surrounding their alleged procurement.
The agency is also examining the possible role of medical personnel and other individuals who may have facilitated the suspected criminal enterprise.
Speaking on the development, the Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed concern over the fraudulent activities of operators of some Maternity and Health Centres across the country, most especially their suspected involvement in illegal adoption, child sale and trafficking.
Bello, as quoted in the statement, declared the development as unacceptable as she vowed to ensure everyone involved faces the full wrath of the law.
“I am particularly disturbed that foreign nationals now come to Nigeria to patronize 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 said.
Bello affirmed that the matter remains under active investigation as she urged members of the public to stay vigilant and report suspected cases of child trafficking.
“| 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.
“Members of the public are urged to remain vigilant and to report suspected cases of child trafficking, illegal adoption, baby-selling or other forms of exploitation to NAPTIP through its nearest zonal/state command, ” the NAPTIP DG said.