NAPTIP seals illegal maternity facility in Rivers
August 20, 2026 3:15 pm
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons. Photo: NAPTIP
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has sealed a residential apartment suspected of being converted into an illegal maternity facility by a child-trafficking syndicate.
This feat was achieved through an intelligence-led operation involving operatives of the agency and officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Health, leading to the arrest of the facility owner, the facilitator in the alleged baby sale saga and one other member of staff of the maternity.
According to a statement issued on Thursday via the agency’s X handle by the agency’s Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Mr Vincent Adekoye, the arrest followed actionable intelligence on a criminal network allegedly involved in the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children.
The hospital, one of the “high-profile health centres in the oil-rich state,” is located in the Elelenwo area of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
NAPTIP disclosed that an unnamed female Liberian national, but residing in Belgium, had Nigeria at a point in time, and within a month, “allegedly took custody of three children under circumstances that have raised serious concern.”
Investigations later revealed that the transfer of the three children culminated in a transaction worth ₦13.5 million.
The statement read, “In continuation of its nationwide clampdown on the activities of some suspected fraudulent illegal Maternity and Health Care facilities that have metamorphosed to “baby factories” across the country, operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, in collaboration with the Rivers State Ministry of Health, have sealed up a residential apartment suspected of being converted into an illegal maternity facility by a child-trafficking syndicate.
“The joint operation, which 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, followed actionable intelligence on a criminal network allegedly involved in the procurement, sale, and unlawful transfer of children.
“Acting on this 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.
“In the latest investigation, preliminary investigation indicates that a 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 the agency indicates that approximately ₦13.5 million changed hands in connection with the transfer of the three children and other members of staff of the maternity.
The agency noted that it had commenced investigations to ascertain the identities and whereabouts of the children, the persons involved in the alleged saga, among others.
“Investigators are now conducting forensic and documentary inquiries to establish the identities, whereabouts and welfare status of the children, determine 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,” the statement added.
The Director-General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, expressed concern about the involvement of foreigners in the ‘baby factory’ syndicate.
She assured that all perpetrators in the crime would be brought to book.
Bello said, “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.
“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”
“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. 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 release recalled that the agency’s DG had, months ago, “ordered an improved surveillance on some suspected self-acclaimed maternities across the country following credible intelligence which indicates that most of them have become fertility scam centres with an unimaginable fraud arising from child sale and trafficking.”
In July 2026, in her address to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Bello stated that over 300,000 people were being trafficked annually into scam compounds across Southeast Asia, with victims forced under threat of violence to run romance scams, crypto fraud and investment schemes targeting victims in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
The scam compound model, in which traffickers lure educated young Nigerians with promises of jobs in information technology, digital marketing and cryptocurrency trading before confiscating their passports on arrival and forcing them to commit online fraud, has emerged as one of the most rapidly growing trafficking trends in recent years.
Ajisafe is a multimedia journalist and digital copy editor with over four years experience
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