The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has uncovered an alleged child trafficking operation involving newborn babies in Cross River.

The head of operations at the NAPTIP Cross River command, Jacob Oba, disclosed this in an interview in Calabar on Monday.

Mr Oba said the agency uncovered the operation after intercepting women allegedly involved in acquiring babies through fraudulent pregnancy claims. He stated that three women in Obubura allegedly claimed to be pregnant while arranging with midwives to obtain newborn babies.

Mr Oba said another woman from Akwa Ibom allegedly stole a week-old baby girl and sold the child to one of the women who claimed to have a cryptic pregnancy for N3 million. He added that the suspect who bought the first baby and the other two were allegedly arranging to obtain additional babies when intercepted.

Mr Oba said investigations established that the sold baby’s biological mother was in Akwa Ibom, confirming the week-old child had allegedly been stolen. He added that the women involved were also suspected of operating baby factories, though the particular baby in the case was allegedly not obtained from the suspect’s facility.

Mr Oba said the case came to security personnel’s attention after community members stopped a vehicle carrying the women and a 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. The woman and the two others were taken for questioning, through which the alleged supplier of the child was subsequently arrested and confessed to selling the baby, leading to further investigation by NAPTIP,” he said.

Mr Oba said the suspects were arrested on June 22 but required proper investigation before the matter was brought before the public. He added that the matter would be charged to court, with further proceedings expected in October. 

(NAN)