Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Fatima Waziri-Azi, says many orphanages in the country are under investigation.
Waziri-Azi disclosed this on Thursday while speaking at a one-day community dialogue and advocacy on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) organised by the agency for stakeholders in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The NAPTIP DG said some orphanages commit a lot of infractions that can be categorised as human trafficking.
She said, “We are investigating a lot of orphanages around the country, NAPTIP is currently prosecuting some of these orphanages.
“The agency is witnessing a lot with these orphanages. No orphanage has the right to conclude the adoption of children.
“NAPTIP comes in when there is an element of human trafficking.”
She warned operators of orphanages to be careful about their mode of operation, adding that Nigerians should avoid adopting babies from such homes.
In February, the federal capital territory administration sealed the Priesthood Orphanage in Karon Majigi village, Abuja, for allegedly trafficking 23 children whose ages range from one to 14 years.
The children, who were rescued from the orphanage, were alleged to have been trafficked from Plateau State.
