Richard Ginika Izuora
The Rivers State Police Command, has raided a child trafficking facility, also known as, a ‘baby factory’ holding at least 23 children and four pregnant teenagers.
“In a covert operation on Tuesday, our men burst a child trafficking syndicate at a baby factory at Woji in Port Harcourt; where 24 babies between the ages of one and two, and four pregnant teenagers were rescued,” Nnamdi Omoni, the commands spokesperson revealed.
He said the victims were looking “frail and malnourished” and had been hospitalised; while investigations were ongoing to find those responsible for the facility.
Police raids on illegal maternity unit – dubbed “baby factory” – have been relatively common in Nigeria; especially in the south.
The “factories” are usually small facilities parading as private medical clinics that house pregnant women and offer their babies for sale.
In some cases, young women have allegedly been held against their will and raped; with their newborns sold on the black market.
But security services say many cases have seen unmarried women with unplanned pregnancies arrive voluntarily or through persuasion.
Baby boys are typically sold for N500,000; while girls fetch N300,000, police said in previous cases.
