NAPTIP arrests three over alleged sale of babies in Rivers

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has seized an illegal maternity facility in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following allegations of babies being sold, according to a report. The facility, located in the Elelenwo area, was allegedly used to procure, sell, and illegally transfer three children.

NAPTIP, in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, conducted the operation, leading to the arrest of the facility's owner, an alleged facilitator, and another staff member. The agency stated that a Liberian woman residing in Belgium entered Nigeria without any proof of pregnancy and allegedly took custody of the three children within a month.

It is reported that approximately N13.5 million was paid in connection with the transfer of the children. NAPTIP's Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed concern over foreign nationals allegedly using illegal means to obtain children in Nigeria. She emphasized that the agency would continue to investigate and arrest all those involved, prioritizing the safety and welfare of the affected children.