The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), in collaboration with the Rivers state Ministry of Health, has sealed a residential apartment in Elelenwo, Port Harcourt, suspected to have been converted into an illegal maternity facility and used in the alleged trafficking and unlawful transfer of children.

The joint operation also led to the arrest of the alleged owner of the facility and another staff member suspected of facilitating the alleged sale and transfer of children.

NAPTIP, in a statement signed by its head of Press and Public Relations, Vincent Adekoye, in Abuja Thursday, said the operation followed actionable intelligence on a suspected network involved in the procurement, sale and unlawful transfer of children.

The agency said preliminary investigations had uncovered circumstances surrounding the alleged transfer of three children to a Liberian national residing in Belgium, who reportedly arrived in Nigeria without evidence of pregnancy but allegedly took custody of the children within one month.

NAPTIP is also investigating an alleged ₦13.5 million financial transaction reportedly linked to the transfer of the three children and other activities involving staff of the suspected maternity facility.

The agency said operatives from its Abuja and Rivers state commands, working with officials of the Rivers state Ministry of Health, secured the premises to preserve potential evidence and prevent further activities pending the conclusion of investigations.