A baby factory has been discovered at the 9th Mile area of the state of Enugu State and nine pregnant girls rescued.
The Enugu State Police Command on Saturday, June 13, raided the baby factory owned by one Ikechukwu Onoh, who operates from his residence.
The young ladies were identified as Stella James, 19, from Ohaozara, Ebonyi State; Eze Jennifer, 19, from Obukpa in Nsukka LGA, Enugu State; Ugwu Christabel, 17, a native of Aku, in Igbo-Etiti LGA, Enugu State; Happiness Mbaonu, 17, from Nnewi, Anambra State; and Ovunna Ifeoma, 20, from Ezza, in Ebonyi State, Esther Nwankwo, 21, a native of Nkalagu, in Ebonyi State; Onyedika Agu, 23, of Isuawa, Awgu in Enugu State; Blessing James, 23, from Ohafia, Abia State; and Chibueze Ujunwa, 24, from Aninri LGA, Enugu State.
Speaking after his arrest the accused owner of the ‘business’ said he got a provisional approval in October 2007 from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in the state to admit and shelter pregnant women in his hospital, known as Tex Hospital and Maternity Home, which is located at 9th Mile.
Onoh said he decided to keep the pregnant girls in his private residence when the said hospital was closed down.
The man admitted that he only notified the authorities through phone calls whenever he admitted any pregnant woman instead of the normal procedure.
Some of the pregnant girls told police that were well taken care of by Onoh but on the agreement that he would take the babies upon delivery.
Christabel, who said her pregnancy, was as a result of rape, said her aunt directed her to Onoh’s residence.
She said her parents wanted to marry her off to an old man because of the ‘unwanted’ pregnancy.
Another girl, Happiness Mbaonu, said she was impregnated by an unknown man who took her home when she was stranded at Holy Ghost Park in Enugu.
She said her relatives directed her to the Onoh’s home after she discovered she was pregnant.
The police said investigations are still ongoing.
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