NAPTIP seals off ‘baby factory’ operating as herbal centre in Abia

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it has sealed off a herbal centre operating as a “baby factory” in Abia state.

Stella Nezan, NAPTIP spokesperson, disclosed this in a statement on Monday, adding that three suspects — including a Nigerian-American — have been arrested.

According to the agency, Nwamaka herbal centre was used as a “baby factory” in Aba.

The building, which is located at Ikpokwu, Ukwa west LGA, was said to be sealed following the refusal of the owner to respond to invitations extended to her by the agency.

“The investigation of the baby factory followed the arrest a Nigerian-American citizen who was found with two children that she claimed to have delivered at the Nwamaka Herbal Centre but which investigations are proving otherwise. The two children are said to be twins,” the statement reads.

“The Nigerian-American had claimed to have given birth to them in March 2020 shortly after she returned from the United States of America. According to the suspect who also claimed to be a Pastor in the United States, she does not know the man responsible for the alleged pregnancy as she got into multiple sexual affairs in September 2018 in Amsterdam and started experiencing some strange symptoms one month later. During that period she visited a hospital in Atlanta and the doctors said they could not identify any pregnancy in her.

“After several encounters with doctors outside Nigeria who could not confirm her pregnant, she decided to come to Nigeria and seek the medical service of Mrs. Nwamaka Ijeoma.

“She narrated further that on 5th March, 2020, she came to Nigeria and went to see Mrs. Ijeoma, who gave her some types of medicine said to have been mixed with honey and that few hours later, she gave birth to a set of twin. She claimed to have paid a whopping sum of N2 million for the delivery.

“The deal, however, blew open when the Nigerian-American approached the American Embassy in Abuja to procure necessary document that will enable her to leave Nigeria with the children. The Embassy doubted her claims and conducted a DNA test which proved negative. The DNA result revealed that she is not the biological mother of the children and that the babies were not even related.”

Nezan added that the owner of the herbal centre, where the Nigerian-American claimed to have delivered the babies, is now on the run.

The babies are said to be currently in the custody of the agency, pending the conclusion of investigation.

Speaking on the development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, director-general of NAPTIP, expressed concern over the rising cases of child trafficking and promised a thorough investigation with a view to bringing the perpetrators to book.