The Abia State Police Command successfully busted a baby factory in Aba, rescuing 16 pregnant women and eight children from the illicit establishment.
The rescue mission, led by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad, was prompted by credible information provided by local residents. The operation targeted a four-story building with 10 flats and an adjacent structure within the same compound.
A spokesperson for the RRS operative revealed, “Yesterday night, 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.”
Efforts to apprehend other individuals involved in the operation are ongoing, and the RRS operative affirmed, “We are tracking them.”
Parading the rescued inmates on Friday, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Ngozi Felix, expressed her satisfaction, especially on the occasion of International Women’s Day. She acknowledged the collaboration with the governor’s office to ensure the proper care and protection of the rescued women during the ongoing investigation.
Mrs. Felix highlighted the role of poverty in driving such vices and urged parents to openly communicate with their children, emphasizing the importance of imparting the right values.
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the state governor, Ferdinand Ekeoma, commended the police and other security agencies for their commitment and professionalism in unveiling the baby factory. He assured that the government, in collaboration with relevant bodies, would ensure the well-being of the rescued girls and provide support for the prosecution of those involved.
Ekeoma urged citizens to denounce such illicit activities, emphasizing that it goes against the cultural norms of the society. He appealed to parents to discourage their children from participating in such activities, labeling it as “unholy, immoral, and anti-society.”
Several of the rescued inmates, referred to as “Social Women,” attributed their involvement in the baby factory to abandonment by their parents.
