Anger in Imo as Police invades baby factory, rescue 16 pregnant teenagers

Some of the pregnant teenagers at the baby factory in Imo state

Another victory was recently recorded as the Imo State Police Command yesterday continued with the clampdown on ‘baby factories’ with the rescue of 16 pregnant teenagers between the ages of 14 to 19 years from an illegal orphanage operated by a fake medical doctor, James Ezuma in the guise of a Non-Governmental Organization.

Ezuma who is currently standing trial for alleged gun running, anchors a registered NGO, the Ezuma Women and Children Rights Protection Initiative (EWCRPI), a platform that shields his nefarious activities from security operatives.

Briefing newsmen, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammad Musa Katsina, disclosed that “the NGO is a baby factory where teenage girls are encouraged to get pregnant and paid N100, 000.00 on delivery to abandon their babies who are eventually used for purposes ranging from child trafficking to rituals”.

He said that the Command is battling to unravel the whereabouts of a new born baby that was forcefully snatched away from the teenage mother, Nnachi Chinaza by the suspect who refused to disclose to the Police who the baby was sold to.

“So far he has taken us to Abia state where he said the baby is but we were unable to recover the baby, though investigations are still ongoing, the presumption at the moment is that the baby may have been used for ritual purposes”, he stated.

The CP warned parents to keep an eye on their teenage girls to prevent them from falling prey to child traffickers and baby factory operators.

According to him, “It is pertinent to mention that the suspect was arraigned before an Owerri Chief Magistrate Court 1 on November, 2013 for the offence of conspiracy and Unlawful possession of firearms.

“When a search was conducted on the premises, sixteen pregnant girls between the ages of fourteen and nineteen were found; also recovered was an automatic eight loader pump action gun which is a prohibited firearm”.

Speaking to journalists amid tears, the 19- year- old mother of the missing child from Ebonyi State, said she was directed to come to the home by a lady who promised she will be taken care of.

She said that her baby was taken away two hours after she put to bed without her consent, “when I started disturbing him to give me my baby, he gave me one hundred thousand naira instead”.

The names of the rescued expectant mothers were given as Peace Effiong (24 yrs. Rivers state), Rita Nnanna (25yrs. Anambra), Blessing Ubbah (20yrs. Lagos), Joy Brown (19 yrs. Imo),Precious Anyadike (18yrs. Lagos), Kelechi Wenwu (17yrs. Imo), Chidinma Okoro (19yrs. Enugu), Iheekanma Onwubiko (21yrs. Imo), Chinyere Ibenime (20yrs. Imo), Nkiru Alozie (16yrs. Abia), Nnachi Chinaza (19yrs. Ebonyi).

Others were Victoria Peter Udoh (16yrs. Akwa Ibom), Ngozi Ike (20yrs. Rivers), Chika Eze (18 yrs. Abia), Jecila Nwonke (19yrs. Abia) and Chinaza Samsom (14yrs. Abia).

Also recovered in the vast premises of the purported NGO were ten exotic cars which include a green Jaguar Car with registration number PD787 IKJ, a red Lincon Navigator with registration number, DN 494 ABC, ash Jaguar Car with registration number BT 929 GWA, white Chrysler with reg. no RBC 335 AS, Red Chrysler with reg. no BH 168 GWA, white Chrysler with reg. no JZ 608 ABC, black Lincon Car with reg. no EU 917 LND, ash Honda Jeep with reg. no EZ 388 ABJ and two other unregistered cars, ash Nissan Quest and Nissan Partfinder Jeep.