The National Agency for Trafficking in Person, Makurdi Zonal Command, on Saturday, said it arrested two persons in connection with the sale of babies in the state.
The NAPTIP Zonal Commander, Mrs Gloria Bai, who disclosed this to journalists in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, said the culprits had been charged to court.
Bai stated that the command was handling seven cases of trafficking involving 13 children, adding that only three of the victims had been rescued.
“Also, we have two young boys who were taken from Gboko and sold in Lagos. The syndicate has been arrested and the case is in court. The boys were rescued with the help of the Nigeria police,” she added.
The zonal commander noted that there were other cases involving young girls who became pregnant out of wedlock and did not know those responsible for the pregnancies.
“Traffickers have started using this opportunity, preying on the vulnerability of these young girls; some are even driven from home after the pregnancy.
“Traffickers are now using that avenue to deceive these young girls, take them somewhere, make them have the babies and then sell the babies. We have received many cases.
“Right now, we have arrested two suspects who are members of the syndicate involved in luring young girls who are pregnant and deceiving them to have the babies and after that they sell the babies.
“We know that there are cases where some of them are told the babies are dead and they are not even paid one kobo and some are just paid some stipends,” she added.
Bai explained that the command was also treating the case of a girl who was taken to Abia State and given N100,000 after her baby was sold, as well as the case of a woman who came from Bayelsa State to buy a baby.
She said both babies had yet to be recovered.
While calling on parents to watch over their children, the NAPTIP zonal commander commended security operatives in the state for their cooperation.