Police detectives from Isheri in Osun State Police Station have raided a factory at the Ikotun area of Lagos where new babies are sold after they were born by mothers who were allegedly tricked into Lagos from various parts of the country. 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 police operatives stormed the building at No. 14 Adisa Street Ayanwale area of Ikotun and arrested two of the traffickers, while one fled.
Led by the Divisional Police Officer, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Chike Ibe, the operatives rescued 19 pregnant girls, aged between 15 and 28 years, as well as four of the trafficked kids.
The operatives rescued the kids from four different locations- No 32 Owosho Street, Governor Road, Ikotun ; No 29 Olugbeyohun Street, Olakunle Bus Stop Abaranja; No 4/6 Anomo Street, Abaranja and the address mentioned above.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the pregnant women were brought to Lagos from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo States.
According to police, the suspects who were identified as 40-year-old Happiness Ukwuoma and 54-year-old Sherifat Ipeya, did not receive formal medical training but operate as nurses.
The state police Public Relations Officer, DSP Elkana Bala, who confirmed the arrests said the command has launched a manhunt of the principal suspect Madam Oluchi, a mother of five from Mbano, Imo State.
Elkana Bala said that the young women were mostly abducted by the suspects for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling the babies to potential buyers.
“The girls were tricked with employment as domestic staff in Lagos.
“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.”
