Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The police in Abia, have raided a ‘baby factory’ located in the commercial city of Aba, and rescued 16 pregnant inmates and eight babies.
Police said the operator of the illegal maternity home was also among the pregnant inmates arrested during the raid.
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Maureen Chinaka, who disclosed this on Friday said the raid occured on Thursday night.
She said the raid followed a credible information about the unwholesome activities going on at the ‘baby factory.’
A statement by the PPRO read: “Yesterday night (Thursday), we decided to visit the place, a four-story building with 10 flats and another adjacent building in the same compound.
“We were able to capture 16 of them, all pregnant. One of the facilitators, Onyinyechi, was also pregnant and another, Ekpene (male) who lives in the compound was also arrested and eight children were recovered.”
According to police, efforts are on to apprehend other fleeing members of the syndicate behind the baby factory.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Ngozi Felix, has commended the police for the exploit, vowing that the game is up for baby factory operators in the state.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ogechi Oguama, said that no part of Abia will be used as a breeding ground for criminals.
She noted that the efforts of the Ministry in collaboration with the Office of the Governor’s wife to crackdown on baby factories were paying off.
The Commissioner further noted with delight that the rescue operation coincided with this year’s International Women’s Day celebration.
“Today, we are celebrating the International Women’s Day, we are receiving back women ‘social mothers’ on their path to destruction.”
She, however, promised to take adequate care of the inmates until they unite with their families.
