By Desire Emmanuel
Seven persons who were negotiating the sale of a one-day-old baby boy for the sum of N3 million in Cross River State have been apprehended.
The Headquarters, 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, in collaboration with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), arrested the human traffickers during an intelligence led operation in Calabar Municipality Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday, January 28.
The names of those arrested were given as Mrs Glory Emmanuel (54 years), Mr Anthony Bassey (35 years), Miss Uduak John (27 years), Mrs Deborah Edet (35 years), Mrs Ruth Asoquo (35 years), Mrs Frada Donald (35 years), all from Cross River State, and Miss Blessing Okon (23 years) from Akwa Ibom State.
Their arrest followed what the Army described as detailed and credible intelligence received by troops on the activities of a human trafficking syndicate operating within the area, as the troops carried out a raid on Glorious Amazing Grace Hospital, located in the Ikot Ekpo general area of Calabar Municipality.
“During the raid, the suspects were apprehended while negotiations were ongoing to sell a day-old baby boy for the sum of ₦3 million, an act which constitutes a grave violation of the law and a serious breach of fundamental human rights,” the Nigerian Army said in a statement on Wednesday.
After their arrest, the six women and a man, along with relevant exhibits, were handed over to officials of NAPTIP for further investigation and necessary legal action, while the rescued baby has been put in the care of appropriate authorities.
