The Police have uncovered an alleged child trafficking operation at a private hospital in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, following an intelligence-led investigation into suspicious activities at the facility.
Police authorities said operatives of the Force Intelligence Department (FID) raided the hospital on June 12 after receiving reports suggesting that newborn babies delivered at the facility were being trafficked.
According to the police, some mothers had raised concerns over claims by the hospital that their babies died shortly after birth, prompting further investigation.
The police said undercover operatives were deployed to the facility and gathered evidence indicating that some newborn babies were allegedly taken away and trafficked while their mothers were informed that the infants had died during childbirth.
During the operation, officers reportedly discovered an embalmed infant in a bucket inside the office of the hospital’s medical director, identified as Mrs Elizabeth Obot, 66.
Investigators alleged that the embalmed infant was used to convince mothers that their babies had died and, in some instances, was rented out to other trafficking networks or individuals seeking to stage the death of a child.
Police said preliminary findings suggested that the facility was operating without the appropriate licence.
In a statement made during interrogation, Obot denied involvement in child trafficking, insisting that she had only assisted women seeking to adopt children and those facing fertility-related challenges.
She admitted receiving payments from individuals in connection with child adoption arrangements but maintained that the transactions were voluntary and not criminal.
One of the suspects, identified as Uffiong Ubong Anthony, reportedly told investigators that she was not a trained nurse but had worked as an auxiliary nurse for more than two decades after learning the profession informally in a private hospital.
The police have appealed to members of the public, particularly women who experienced stillbirths at the facility, to come forward with information that could assist ongoing investigations.
Authorities also advised expectant mothers to ensure relatives are present during delivery where possible and to patronise only properly registered healthcare facilities.
The police said investigations were ongoing and assured the public that all persons found culpable would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The Rivers State Police Command has yet to disclose the total number of children believed to have been trafficked through the facility.
