ABUJA: The Director General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, has hit back at allegations that operatives of the Agency abducted eight children from Happy Home Orphanage in Asaba, Delta State.
Addressing journalists in Abuja, Bello described the claims as “baseless blackmail,” insisting the operation was a lawful rescue following petitions from parents of missing children.
“The rescue at Happy Home Orphanage was not an abduction,” Bello declared. “NAPTIP does not and will never engage in such a condemnable act. We acted strictly under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, which empowers us to investigate, rescue and prosecute cases of trafficking, abduction and related offences.”
She accused the proprietor of the orphanage of evading investigators and instead mobilising women to make false claims over the children.
“All attempts to get him to cooperate have failed. Instead, he has chosen to blackmail the Agency and sponsor claims. We are calling on anyone laying claim to the children to appear before us for proper investigation. Social media propaganda will not save anyone,” the DG said.
Bello also warned that no child would be released until forensic investigations, including DNA tests, are completed. “NAPTIP will not hand over these children to anybody until the truth is established. Anyone found culpable in this matter will face the full wrath of the law,” she vowed.
