NAPTIP
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has exposed a syndicate involved in an alleged child trafficking operation involving newborn babies in Cross River State.
The Head of Operations for the NAPTIP Cross River Command, Mr. Jacob Oba, disclosed the development during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Calabar on Monday.
According to Oba, the agency intercepted three women in the Obubra area who allegedly feigned “cryptic pregnancies” claiming their pregnancies could not be detected through conventional means, while secretly conspiring with midwives to obtain newborn babies.
Investigations revealed that one of the women had purchased a one-week-old baby girl from an Akwa Ibom suspect for ₦3 million. The baby had been stolen from her biological mother in Akwa Ibom State. Oba noted that at the time of their arrest, the main buyer and two accomplices were arranging to acquire additional infants.
The operation unravelled after suspicious community members intercepted a vehicle carrying the women and the infant. When security personnel asked the alleged buyer to breastfeed the child, she was unable to do so, raising immediate red flags.
Following their arrest, interrogation of the suspects led NAPTIP operatives to the alleged child supplier, who subsequently confessed to selling the infant. Oba added that while the suspects are believed to operate “baby factories,” the rescued child was stolen directly from her mother rather than sourced from a facility.
Although the arrests took place on June 22, the details were withheld from the public until a thorough investigation could establish the facts and confirm the biological mother’s identity.
NAPTIP confirmed that the matter will be charged to court, with legal proceedings scheduled to begin in October. (NAN)
