Nigeria
Ms. Coker believes that child trafficking from West Africa to the UK is widespread, with money being exchanged for children on a large scale. Since 2021, the UK has restricted adoptions from Nigeria due to evidence of organized child trafficking. Authorities have been aware of this issue for years, with cases surfacing in the Family Courts. Some clinics offer "packages" for registering babies, with costs ranging from £2,000 to £8,000. DNA testing was once required for babies being taken from Nigeria, but it was stopped in 2018 due to legal concerns. Ms. Coker emphasizes the difficulty in tackling this issue, suggesting that the root problem lies in the countries where the children are born. Anti-trafficking experts stress that such practices violate children's right to identity, urging stronger efforts to prevent these crimes. The UK government has vowed to take legal action against those who falsely claim parentage to facilitate entry.
