Police rescue 19 pregnant women from baby factory in Lagos

The police in Lagos have uncovered a baby factory in Lagos, and rescued 19 pregnant women, some of them are teenagers. Two suspects have also been arrested in connection with crime.

Bala Elkana, spokesperson of the Lagos police command, who confirmed the incident on Sunday, said detectives who carried out the action, acted on information from a reliable source.

At 1600hrs, acting on the strength of information from a reliable source, detectives from Ishiri Osun police station led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Chike Ibe stormed a building at 14 Adisa Street, Ayanwale area of Ikotun Lagos, suspected to be used for child trafficking.

In the course of operation, 19 pregnant girls ages between15 and 28 were rescued. Four kids were also rescued.”

Elkana said that the victims were recovered from four different locations, including 32, Owosho Street, Governor Road, Ikotun; 29 Olugbeyohun Street, Olakunle bus stop Abaranja.

According to Elkana, the pregnant women were brought from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo States.

He noted that two suspects- Happiness Ukwuoma, 40 years old and Sherifat Ipeya, 54 years old were arrested in connection with the case.

“The suspects did not receive formal medical training but operate as nurses. The suspects are natives of Imo and Epe, Lagos States respectively.

The command has launched a manhunt of the principal suspect identified simply as Oluchi, a native of Mbano, Imo State.

The police said that young women were mostly abducted by the suspects for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling the babies to potential buyers.

” The girls were tricked with employment as domestic staff in Lagos. The babies are sold between N300,000 and N500,000 depending on the sex. Boys are sold for N500,000 and girls for N300,000,” said Elknana.

The noted that Commissioner of Police Lagos State, Zubairu Muazu mni has visited the scene and ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take over the case.

The command is working with other agencies and stakeholders in rehabilitating and resettling the pregnant girls and the babies while investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to court,” said Elkana.

 

JOSHUA BASSEY