The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has uncovered an alleged child trafficking operation involving newborn babies in Cross River.
The Head of Operations, NAPTIP Cross River Command, Jacob Oba, said the agency uncovered the operation following the interception of women allegedly involved in acquiring babies through fraudulent pregnancy claims.
Oba said three women in Obubra allegedly claimed to be pregnant with “cryptic pregnancies” that could not be detected, while allegedly arranging with midwives to obtain newborn babies.
He said another woman from Akwa Ibom allegedly stole a week-old baby girl and sold the child to one of the women for N3 million.
According to him, the buyer and the other two women were making arrangements to obtain additional babies when they were intercepted.
Oba said investigations established that the baby’s biological mother was in Akwa Ibom, confirming that the week-old child had allegedly been stolen.
He added that the women were also suspected of operating baby factories, although the baby involved in the case was allegedly not obtained from their facility.
Oba said the case came to the attention of security personnel after community members stopped a vehicle carrying the women and the baby.
“The main buyer claimed to be the baby’s mother but could not breastfeed the child when security personnel asked her to do so.”
He said the woman and the two others were taken for questioning, leading to the arrest of the alleged supplier, who reportedly confessed to selling the baby and provided information that aided further investigation.
Oba said the suspects were arrested on June 22 but had to be properly investigated before the case was made public.
He added that the matter would be charged to court, with further proceedings expected in October.
