Baby Factory: Police Rescue 16 Pregnant Women, 8 Children In Aba

Baby factory: Police rescue 16 pregnant women, 8 children in Aba

By Chibuozo Chikere

The Nigeria Police, Abia Command, rescued 16 pregnant women and eight children at a baby factory in Aba, its Public Relations Officer, Maureen Chinaka, said in a statement on Friday in Umuahia.

Chinaka, however refused to disclose the location of the baby factory in Aba, opining that further details could compromise ongoing investigation.

She said the Police also arrested one Onyinyechi Okoro (29) and Ekene Okezie (32), suspected operators of the baby factory.

According to the statement, the rescued persons are: Joy Mathew, (27), Stella Okon (22), Bella Okon (19) and Idara Emmanuel (24).

Others are: Blessing Okon, (19), Blessing Edet (20), Promise Akpan (22). Joy Edet (17), Josephine Asuquo (19) and Glory John (19).

Goodness Peter (20), Ifeoma Ozoemena (22), Victoria Robert (20), Blessed Monday (17), Victoria Liberty (21) and Anita Sunday (21) were also rescued by the Police.

Among the eight children rescued are five females – China Marvelous (11), Nancy Sunday (9), Marvelous Sunday (6), Martha Ubong (2) and Deborah Ndifreke (2).

Three male children were among those rescued are: Praise Answer (2) Goodness Destiny (4) and Victor Aniebeti (2).

Chinaka said the victims were rescued when the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Aba, using credible information,  raided the baby factory on March 7.

According to her, the rescued girls and children are kept by Mrs Onyinyechi Okoro from Ihechiowa in Arochukwu LGA and from Arondizuogu in Ideato LGA of Imo.

The PPRO said that discreet investigations were ongoing regarding the baby factory’s operations.

She, therefore, urged people to be security conscious and support police activities by volunteering information on suspects and criminal activities.

Chinaka said the police remained committed to protecting law -abiding citizens, adding that it would continue to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents of Abia. (NAN)

TO GO WITH AFP STORY BY BENJAMIN SIMON
Front view of Nigeria’s Moonlight Maternity Clinic, raided by paramilitary operatives for allegedly engaging in baby trafficking business in southeastern Nigeria city of Enugu on August 5, 2013. Security forces across the southeast have uncovered a series of so-called baby factories in recent months. In some cases, young women have allegedly been held against their will, forcibly impregnated with their newborns sold on the black market. Their newborns are sold for several thousand dollars, with males fetching higher prices. The mother receives roughly $200 (150 euros). AFP PHOTO/ PIUS UTOMI EKPEI (Photo credit should read PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP via Getty Images)