Nine Pregnant Girls Rescued By The Police From Enugu Baby Factory

Enugu State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, has disclosed to newsmen on Saturday that they've rescued nine pregnant girls and women during a raid on a baby factory at the 9th Mile area of the state.

The baby factory was reportedly owned and operated by one Ikechukwu Onoh of Etiti, Amakwo-Ngwo Village, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu. Onoh and the ladies were taken into police custody after the raid.

During the raid by the operatives of the 9th Mile Division of the command after monitoring activities in the building over a period, Nine pregnant girls and women were rescued from the factory.

The 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.

Others were 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.

However, Onoh claimed that 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.

He admitted that although he was supposed to formally inform the ministry within 24 hours of admitting any pregnant woman, he only notified the authorities through phone calls and not in writing.

Onoh could not produce any reference letter through which any of the girls was referred to his home. But some of the girls told the police that Onoh took care of them on the basis of an agreement that he would take the babies upon delivery.