# Child trafficking syndicate operations in Nigeria

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/child-trafficking-syndicate-operations-in-nigeria
> Updated: 2026-08-31T19:21:26.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2.

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has conducted operations to dismantle child-trafficking networks in Nigeria.

In Port Harcourt, authorities sealed an illegal maternity facility in the Elelenwo area suspected of being operated by a syndicate involved in the sale of babies. The operation led to the arrest of the facility owner, a facilitator, and a staff member. Investigations revealed that a Liberian national residing in Belgium allegedly took custody of three children following a transaction involving approximately ₦13.5 million.

In a separate large-scale intervention, NAPTIP rescued over 180 children across five states. These syndicates reportedly operated under the guise of humanitarian groups and civil society organizations, targeting vulnerable communities by promising educational assistance. The agency recovered children from various locations, including a private building in Onitsha, and arrested a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre in Onitsha for allegedly possessing a trafficked child. NAPTIP leadership has called for internal investigations within civil society organizations to purge criminal elements.

## Claims

- NAPTIP has rescued over 180 children allegedly trafficked from five Nigerian states. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Suspected criminal groups posed as civil society and humanitarian organizations to traffic children. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Traffickers targeted communities affected by insecurity by promising educational support and back-to-school programs. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Three children were recovered from a private building in Onitsha who had been taken from Kajuru, Kaduna State. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- A nurse at the Federal Medical Centre in Onitsha was arrested for allegedly being in possession of a trafficked child. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- A special squad was established within NAPTIP's Investigation and Monitoring Department to recover children and prosecute traffickers. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-31: NAPTIP rescues 180 children from trafficking syndicates in Nigeria

NAPTIP has rescued over 180 children trafficked from five Nigerian states by criminal groups posing as humanitarian and civil society organizations.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/naptip-rescues-180-children-from-trafficking-syndicates-in-nigeria

### 2026-08-20: NAPTIP seals illegal maternity facility in Port Harcourt

NAPTIP and Rivers State health officials sealed an illegal maternity facility in Port Harcourt following allegations of a child-trafficking syndicate involving the sale of three children for ₦13.5 million.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/naptip-seals-illegal-maternity-facility-in-port-harcourt

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Cite as: Child trafficking syndicate operations in Nigeria. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/child-trafficking-syndicate-operations-in-nigeria