ANOTHER baby factory was on, Saturday discovered at the 9th Mile area of Enugu State during a raid by the police, Sunday Tribune gathered.
Nine pregnant girls and women, according to Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, were discovered in the baby factory.
Mr Amaraizu had disclosed that the baby factory was owned and operated by one Ikechukwu Onoh, of Etiti, Amakwo-Ngwo village, in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State.
Onoh and the ladies were taken into police custody after the raid.
According to Amaraizu, the factory was run in the residence of Onoh, which was raided by the operatives of the 9th Mile Division of the command after monitoring activities in the building over a period of time.
About nine pregnant girls and women seen in the factory were at various stages of pregnancy.
The ladies were identified as Stella James, 19, from Ohaozara, Ebonyi State; Eze Jennifer, 19, of Obukpa in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State; Ugwu Christabel, 17, a native of Aku, in Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area of Enugu State; Happiness Mbaonu, 17, from Nnewi, Anambra State, and Ovunna Ifeoma, 20, from Ezza, in Ebonyi State.
Others are 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 Local Government Area of Enugu State. The ladies are currently helping the police in ongoing investigations.
The owner of the factory, Onoh, upon interrogation, claimed he obtained permission in 2007 from the ministry of women affairs and social development in Enugu State to admit and shelter pregnant women in his hospital, known as ‘Tex Hospital and Maternity Home,’ which was located at 9th Mile.
Onoh said he decided to keep the pregnant ladies in his private residence when the said hospital closed down.
He also admitted that, although he was supposed to formally inform the ministry of women affairs and social development within 24 hours of admitting any pregnant woman, he only notified the authorities through phone calls, and not in writing.
But the suspect, according to Amaraizu, could not produce any reference letter through which any of the ladies was referred to his home.
Some of the girls, who opened up to the police, said Onoh takes care of them, but on the basis of an agreement that he will take the babies upon delivery.
Ugwu Christabel, on her part, said she got pregnant after she was raped and was referred to Onoh by her aunty, claiming her parents would have married her off to an old man because of her pregnancy.
The other girls also had their own stories to tell.
Meanwhile, Amaraizu said the state Criminal and Intelligence Department had begun an investigation into the matter.
