Cross River State: Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force arrests 2 suspects

An anti-human trafficking task force has arrested 2 suspects alleged to be administrators of a “baby-making factory” in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.

The joint task force code-named “Operation Akpakwu” rescued 24 pregnant young women, eleven children and shut down the factory located at the outskirt of Anantigha, the headquarters of Calabar South local government area.

One of the suspects and purported owner of the baby trafficking ring, Mrs Fidelia Daniel was arrested alongside her husband.

Brigadier General Mohammed Abdullahi, the Commander 13 Brigade Calabar handed over the victims and suspects to officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Mr Oba Jacobs and Eta Eteng.

NAPTIP Investigation

Oba Jacobs, who is the Head of Operations at NAPTIP promised to investigate the crime and prosecute the suspects.

He used the occasion to appeal to the public to lend support by providing relevant information that would enable the agency to put an end to trafficking.

According to Jacobs, “As an agency, we (NAPTIP) have the mandate to arrest and prosecute cases of this nature. We are calling on the public to assist us with useful information that would lead to the arrest of this category of people involved in this kind of racket”.

Jacobs hinted that NAPTIP has opened an office in Calabar and advised the public not to hesitate in reporting such illegalities observed within their locality, noting “The office exist in Calabar now as a way of making our services readily available to those who need us the most”.

Brigadier General Abdullahi, the Commander 13 Brigade represented by the Officer Commanding 13 Brigade Provost, Major Stanley Ikpeme pledged the Nigerian Army’s commitment to collaborate with sister agencies for the peace and safety of the people.

However, one of the victims, a teenager, who claimed she was five months pregnant, said she was taken to the factory by one of her friends.

She said she had no option than to remain at the factory receiving the sum of 2,000 naira weekly for her upkeep because the alleged father of the baby abandoned her.

PIAK