Police uncovers ‘baby factory’ in Lagos

No fewer than 19 pregnant girls were reported to have been rescued from a suspected baby factory which was uncovered by operatives of the Nigeria Police.

The Lagos State police command on Sunday revealed that its operatives, acting based on intelligence report, had raided the baby factory on 14 Adisa Street, Ayanwale area of Ikotun.

Police spokesman, Bala Elkana, said two suspects had been arrested, adding that a principal suspect, identified as Madam Oluchi, a mother of five, from Mbano, Imo State, had escaped.

According to the police spokesman, the suspects bring the girls from the South-East to Lagos where they are impregnated.

He said the babies were sold based on their sex; while male babies were sold for N500,000, the girls were sold for N300,000.

“On September 19,2019, at 4pm, while acting on the strength of information from a reliable source, detectives from the Isheri Osun Police Station, led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Chike Ibe, stormed a building at 14 Adisa Street, Ayanwale area, Ikotun, Lagos, suspected to be used for child trafficking.

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“Nineteen pregnant girls, aged 15 and 28, were rescued. Four kids were also rescued. They were recovered from four different locations.

“They include: 32 Owosho Street, Governor Road, Ikotun; 29 Olugbeyohun Street, Olakunle Bus Stop Abaranja; 4/6 Anomo Street, Abaranja and the address mentioned above. The pregnant women were brought from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo states.

“Two suspects, namely Happiness Ukwuoma ‘f’ 40 years old, and Sherifat Ipeya ‘f’ 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 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 Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu, has visited the scene and ordered the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department to take over the case.”

Elkana said the command was working with other agencies and stakeholders in rehabilitating and resettling the pregnant girls and the babies.

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