The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued two children in Enugu State from a suspected trafficking network tied to an orphanage operation. A 51-year-old man, Thaddeus, is under investigation for allegedly selling the minors to his uncle, Elies, under the pretense of care arrangements. NAPTIP disclosed the operation in a statement released Wednesday through its official social media channels.
Acting on credible intelligence, NAPTIP operatives conducted a rescue mission in Enugu that led to the recovery of the two victims. The children, whose identities are being withheld, are now in safe custody and receiving care under the agency's victim protection protocols.
Thaddeus is the sole suspect currently named in the case, with investigations ongoing to determine the full scope of the network. NAPTIP confirmed that it is working to uncover all individuals involved and ensure accountability. The agency urged the public to report any suspicious activities related to human trafficking.
This case follows another NAPTIP intervention in April, when 47 Nigerians were intercepted at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport while attempting to fly to Cairo, Egypt. That operation was conducted with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria and the Nigeria Immigration Service. The 47 individuals were placed in protective custody for profiling as investigations continue.
Thaddeus stands accused of selling children to his own uncle while presenting it as care, exposing a betrayal cloaked in familial trust. The victims were removed from danger, but their identities remain protected, leaving questions about how they were initially placed in the arrangement. If a child can be trafficked within a supposed care system by a relative, then oversight mechanisms meant to protect minors are failing at the most basic level. NAPTIP's ongoing investigations must reveal whether any formal orphanage or welfare structure enabled this alleged exploitation.
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