Police in Lagos have rescued 19 pregnant women from a baby factory at Ikotun area of the state.
Lagos police spokesman, Bala Elkana, in a statement on Sunday, said detectives from Ishiri Osun Police Station led by the Divisional Police Officer, Chike Ibe, on September 19 acting on a tip-off, stormed the building suspected to be used for child trafficking.
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Mr Elkana said the pregnant women were between the ages of 15 and 28, adding that four children were also rescued from four different locations.
He said the pregnant women were brought from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo States.
Elkana said two suspects, Happiness Ukwuoma, 40, and Sherifat Ipeya, 54 were arrested in connection with the case.
“The suspects did not receive formal medical training but operate as nurses. The suspects are natives of Imo and Epe, Lagos States respectively,” he said.
“The Command has launched a manhunt of the principal suspect, Madam Oluchi, from Mbano, Imo State. She is a mother of five. The young women were mostly abducted by the suspects for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling the babies to potential buyers.
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“The girls were tricked with employment as domestic staff in Lagos. The babies are sold between N300,000 and N500,000 depending on the sex. Boys are sold for N500,000 and girls for N300,000.”
The spokesman also said the Commissioner of Police, Zubairu Muazu, had 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,” he said.
Elkana also said the police on September 25 arrested an Aiye Confraternity kingpin, Osonye Henrise, 24, at Bariga area of the state.
He said Mr Osonye was attempting to kill a man named Bosiga on the same day at Araromi Street, Bariga.
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The spokesman also said officers arrested an Eiye Confraternity stalwart, Babatunde Fadairo, 22, on September 26 at Bariga.
The suspect, he said, is alleged to have led five others to kill a member of Aiye Confraternity, Ahmed Saul, 32, with a stone at New Garage.
The statement said the suspects would be charged to court at the end of investigations.
