The Rivers State Police Command on Tuesday paraded three
pregnant women and a 36-year-old man suspected to be involved in producing
babies for sale.
The ‘baby factory’ suspects, who were arrested at Igwuruta
in Ikwerre Local Government Area, on July 5, 2014, were identified as
Odinchinma Nwala (25), Glory Anyanwu (22), Goodness Nwankwo (19), and Stanley
Okechukwu (male, 36).
The Divisional Police Officer of Igwuruta Police Station,
Mr. Bello Muhammed, told newsmen that they were able to apprehend the suspects
after being alerted by well meaning Nigerians.
Muhammed, a Chief Superintendent of Police, explained that
it got signals that someone was operating a baby factory in Umuehe in Igwuruta,
Ikwerre Local Government Area.
“We sent a patrol team that went and confirmed the
information. When the police traced and arrested Okechukwu, who took the team
to where he kept the girls on Saturday, July 5, 2014, it was discovered that
the suspects had been involved in the business for a long time.
“The girls were brought from different local government
areas, and further investigation revealed that after delivering, he will settle
(pay) the girls N100,000 per baby girl and N150,000 for a baby boy before
selling the babies,” the DPO said.
Mohammed said he was following the directive of the state
Commissioner of Police to enlighten the communities within his jurisdiction on
the need for landlords to be mindful of the people they habour in their houses
and their occupations.
He explained that investigation was ongoing to get to the
root of the matter, adding that child trafficking remains an offence in the
country.
However, Okechukwu, who spoke with newsmen, denied operating
a baby factory. He added that he was only rendering assistance to the young
pregnant women.
Also, one of the pregnant women, who identified herself as
Glory Anyanwu, said she was eight months pregnant, even as she denied that they
were being kept for a baby producing business.
“He (Okechukwu) saw me in this condition and decided to
assist me by offering me and my unborn baby accommodation. But I know the
person that impregnated me,” Anyanwu said.
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