Police parade suspected baby factory operators in Rivers state

Three pregnant women and a 36-year-old man (pictured above) suspected to be involved in producing babies for sale were paraded by the Rivers State Police Command yesterday July 8th, Punch reports.

The suspects, who were arrested in Igwuruta, Rivers state on July 5th, were identified as Odinchinma Nwala (25), Glory Anyanwu (22), Goodness Nwankwo (19), and Stanley Okechukwu (male, 36).

The DPO of Igwuruta Police Station, Mr. Bello Muhammed, who spoke with newsmen, explained how the suspects were arrested, saying they were alerted by well meaning Nigerians.

"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 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 said 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.

Source: Punch