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NAPTIP has uncovered a suspected child trafficking network in Rivers State, sealing an illegal maternity facility in Port Harcourt and arresting three persons allegedly connected to the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children.
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The agency said a Liberian national resident in Belgium allegedly arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but took custody of three children within about one month, raising concerns over the circumstances surrounding their procurement.
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Intelligence available to NAPTIP indicated that about N13.5 million allegedly changed hands in connection with the transfer of the three children and other persons linked to the suspected maternity facility.
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Investigators are now tracing financial transactions and examining the children’s identities, whereabouts, welfare and biological and legal parentage, while NAPTIP warned that anyone found culpable would face the law.
August 20, (THEWILL) — The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has uncovered a suspected child trafficking network in Rivers State following a coordinated operation on an alleged illegal maternity facility in Port Harcourt.
The agency sealed the facility located in the Elelenwo area of the state, and arrested three persons, including its alleged owner, a suspected facilitator of the baby sale and a staff member.
NAPTIP’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, saying the operation followed intelligence on a suspected criminal network involved in the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children.
According to him, the facility was allegedly operating from a residential apartment that had been converted into an illegal maternity facility.
Adekoye said preliminary investigations revealed that a Liberian national resident in Belgium allegedly arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but took custody of three children within about one month.
The agency said intelligence indicated that about ₦13.5 million allegedly changed hands in connection with the transfer of the three children and other persons linked to the maternity.
NAPTIP operatives from Abuja and Rivers State, working with officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, subsequently carried out a coordinated operation at the facility.
The premises were sealed to preserve the scene and safeguard potential evidence as investigations continue.
The agency said investigators are conducting forensic and documentary inquiries to establish the identities, whereabouts and welfare of the children and determine their biological and legal parentage.
It said financial transactions linked to the alleged procurement and transfer of the children were also being traced, while investigators are examining the possible involvement of medical personnel and other individuals.
NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Bello, expressed concern over the alleged activities of some maternity and health facilities that have reportedly become centres for illegal adoption, baby-selling and child trafficking.
Bello said she was particularly disturbed by the alleged involvement of foreign nationals in procuring children from suspected criminal operators in Nigeria.
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“I am particularly disturbed that foreign nationals now come to Nigeria to patronise these suspected criminal elements and procure children like a common object of trade across the border. This is sad and totally unacceptable”, she said.
The NAPTIP boss said the investigation had been widened to identify all persons connected to the case, assuring that anyone found culpable would be subjected to due process under the law.
“I 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”, Bello said.
She stressed that the safety and welfare of the affected children remained the agency’s foremost priority.
NAPTIP urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and report suspected cases of child trafficking, illegal adoption, baby-selling and other forms of exploitation to the agency through its nearest zonal or state command.
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