Abia, Enugu, Imo, Anambra States and other south-eastern states of Nigeria are fast becoming the home of baby factories as many of them keep sprouting every other day, with the recent rescue of 14 pregnant teenagers and 8 children by soldiers from 144 Battalion, Asa, in Ukwa West local government area of Abia from one of such homes masquerading as a motherless baby home at Umunkpeyi Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South of the state.
Beside the rescued girls, 6 young men whose jobs were to impregnate them and two girls who were in charge, were also arrested while the proprietress of the home known as Nma Charity, managed to escape.
The home which is allegedly run by the woman after having gotten the approval of the state government, is said to engage in child trafficking with the pregnant girls being forced to sell their children when they put to birth.
Information has it that the girls, on delivery, got N20,000, while their babies were sold for between N80,000 and N150,000 for females and males, respectively.
One of the suspects who was caught at Eke-Akpara in Osisioma Ngwa local government area of the state while trying to steal a baby, confessed that he had been in the business with Nma Charity for a long period, stating that his role was to steal a child and deliver it to the her, who in turn sold it to her customers.
Acting on the confession of the suspect, the Commanding Officer 144 Battalion, Lt. Col. Omolori Rasheed, ordered his men to raid the home where about 14 pregnant teenagers and six young men were arrested, while the proprietress of the home was away at the time of the raid.
The report further adds that the babies, between the 1 and 6, as well as the pregnant teenagers, would be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and Other Related Matters, NAPTIP, while the other persons would be handed over to the police for prosecution.
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