By Bose
Kindly share:
A shocking child trafficking scandal has been uncovered in Rivers State after police operatives raided a suspected illegal maternity facility in Port Harcourt, exposing an alleged network accused of stealing and selling newborn babies while deceiving mothers into believing their children had died during childbirth.
The discovery has sparked outrage across Nigeria and renewed concerns over the activities of unlicensed maternity homes and baby trafficking syndicates operating under the guise of healthcare facilities.
According to the Nigeria Police Force, operatives attached to the Force Intelligence Department stormed the facility on June 12 following intelligence reports suggesting criminal activities were taking place within the hospital.
Investigators revealed that several women had earlier raised suspicions after being informed that their babies died shortly after delivery. Doubting the hospital’s explanations, some families reportedly sought help from authorities, prompting a covert investigation.
Police said undercover operatives were deployed to the facility and allegedly uncovered a disturbing scheme in which newborn babies were secretly removed and trafficked, while their mothers were falsely informed that the infants had not survived childbirth.
During the operation, officers reportedly discovered an embalmed infant concealed inside a bucket in the office of the facility’s medical director, identified as 66-year-old Elizabeth Obot.
According to investigators, the preserved body was allegedly used to convince mothers that their babies had died. Police further alleged that the corpse was sometimes rented out to women seeking to fake childbirth outcomes or deceive relatives about the loss of a child.
During interrogation, Obot reportedly admitted involvement in arranging baby transfers for substantial sums of money. She allegedly told investigators that buyers could pay as much as ₦3 million for a child, with biological mothers receiving a significant portion of the proceeds.
The suspect also claimed that the deceased infant found in her office was the result of a miscarriage and had not been properly disposed of after receiving consent from the parents.
She maintained that she had committed no crime, insisting that she merely assisted women struggling with infertility and that mothers who surrendered their babies did so voluntarily.
Police investigations also revealed that Obot allegedly operated the facility without the required licence.
Another suspect, identified as Uffiong Ubong Anthony, reportedly confessed that she had worked as a nurse for over two decades despite having no formal nursing qualifications. She allegedly learned nursing procedures simply by observing healthcare workers in a private hospital.
Authorities have called on women who experienced stillbirths or unexplained infant deaths at the facility to come forward and assist ongoing investigations.
The police also advised expectant mothers to remain vigilant during childbirth, urging families to ensure trusted relatives are present during deliveries and to patronise only properly licensed healthcare facilities.
The latest discovery highlights the persistent challenge of child trafficking and so-called “baby factories” in parts of Nigeria. Over the years, security agencies have dismantled several syndicates accused of buying, selling, and illegally adopting newborns, often exploiting vulnerable women and desperate couples seeking children.
Investigators say further arrests and prosecutions may follow as efforts continue to unravel the full extent of the alleged operation in Port Harcourt.
