baby
File photo : A baby

A statement from the state police command spokesperson, Bala Elkana, says the discovery was made following a tipoff from concerned members of the public.

According to Bala, on September 19th at about 4pm, detectives from Ishiri Osun Police Station led by the Divisional Police Officer,  CSP Chike Ibe, while acting on credible information received, stormed a building at no 14 adisa street Ayanwale area ikotun Lagos, suspected to be used for child trafficking.

19 pregnant girls ages  between15 and 28 were rescued. Four kids were also rescued. They were recovered from four different locations. They include: No 32 Owosho Street, Governor Road, Ikotun ; No 29 Olugbeyohun Street,  Olakunle Bus Stop Abaranja; No 4/6 Anomo Street,  Abaranja and Ikotun.

Bala in the statement said the pregnant women were brought from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo States with the promises of helping them get a job and then afterwards converted into sex workers.

Two women namely Happiness Ukwuoma ‘f’ 40 years old and Sherifat Ipeya ‘f’ 54 years old (pictured above) who acted as nurses but had no formal education, were arrested in connection with the case. They informed the police that the baby factory is owned by one Madam Oluchi from Imo state who is currently on the run.

Bala says preliminary investigation shows that the young women were mostly abducted by the suspects  for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling their babies to potential buyers. The girls were tricked with employment as domestic staff in Lagos. The Babies are sold between #300,000 and #500,000 depending on the sex. Boys are sold for N500,000 and girls for #300,000.

He added that the Commissioner of Police Lagos State, CP Zubairu Muazu, visited the scene and ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department to take over the case. The Command is working with other Agencies and stakeholders in rehabilitating and resettling the pregnant girls and the Babies.

Investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to Court. 

Source: Lindaikeji