Police Dismantle “Baby Factory,” Rescue 16 and Arrest Two
In a harrowing revelation from Abia State, South-east Nigeria, the local police force has successfully dismantled a clandestine operation known as a “baby factory” in the bustling city of Aba. Assistant Superintendent Maureen Chinaka, the police spokesperson, announced the breakthrough during a press briefing in Umuahia, the state’s capital.
The operation, which took place on Thursday night, was led by the state’s Rapid Response Squad. It resulted in the rescue of 16 pregnant girls, ranging in age from 17 to 27. The majority of the rescued hail from Akwa Ibom State, with others from Cross River and Ebonyi State.
In addition to the young women, the police also rescued eight children, aged between two and 11 years, from the grips of the illegal facility.
The police have apprehended two suspects, a 29-year-old woman named Onyinyechi Okoro and a 32-year-old man, Ekene Okezie, who are believed to have been running the operation. Both suspects are currently under investigation.
The term “baby factory” is used in Nigeria to describe places where women are held against their will, often subjected to sexual abuse, and forced into pregnancy. The children born in these conditions are then sold illicitly into adoption, and sometimes the women are pushed into labor or prostitution.
This incident sheds light on a broader issue within the country, as a recent probe revealed a supposed Christian orphanage in Anambra State involved in the illegal sale of babies, with prices ranging between N1.5 million and N2 million, based on the child’s gender. The investigation also implicated some officials of the Nigerian police and judiciary in the scheme, highlighting the need for systemic reform and vigilance against such human rights violations.
