NAPTIP Seals Rivers Maternity Facility Over Alleged Baby Sale

NAPTIP has sealed a residential apartment in Port Harcourt suspected of being used as an illegal maternity facility linked to the alleged sale of three babies.

The operation was carried out with officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health. The agency said three people were arrested: the facility owner, an alleged facilitator in the transaction and another staff member.

The facility was located in the Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt. NAPTIP said its officers acted on intelligence about a suspected network involved in procuring, selling and unlawfully transferring children.

Investigators are looking into how a Liberian woman resident in Belgium allegedly came to Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy and took custody of three children within about one month. The agency said preliminary findings suggested about N13.5 million changed hands in connection with the transfer of the children.

The premises were sealed to preserve evidence while investigators work to establish the identities, whereabouts, welfare and parentage of the children. NAPTIP also said it was tracing people involved in the procurement and transfer of the children, following the money trail and examining the possible role of medical personnel.

The agency said anyone found culpable would be taken through the legal process, while the safety of the affected children would remain the main priority.

Sources: Punch, Daily Post