A suspected baby factory has been uncovered by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of Abia State Police command at Ogbor Hill area of the state.

A 54-year-old man, Nkem Nwokocha who allegedly runs the factory, has been arrested and five pregnant women rescued.

The rescued pregnant women are Chidinma Chukwu (29), of Isiala Mbano community, Imo State; Kelechi Sampson (20); Happiness Godwin, of Mboko Umuanunu village, Obingwa, Abia State; Okoronkwo Mercy, of Alayi, in the Bende LGA, Abia State; and Oluebube Onyabu, of Umuanunu village, in the Obingwa LGA, Abia State.

Nwokocha allegedly ran the factory with his wife, identified only as Nurse.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adeleye Oyebade, said the factory was discovered through information provided to the police.

Oyebade lamented that such act was inhumane, asking that citizens provide useful information whenever they have any.

He said, “Any crime that involves the sale of children is against humanity and God. Sometimes, it’s even hard to imagine that a child will be stolen and sometimes, their parents are involved. But we are not going to accept it. We are asking members of the public to give us useful information that will assist us in this direction.”

However, the suspect said he was not aware of any baby factory, claiming that his wife had run a maternity clinic for 6 years.

He said, “I’m aware of what my wife is doing. Most times when I returned from my place of work, I saw these girls and when I asked them what they were doing in my house, my wife told me that their parents registered them with her for treatment.

“When the girls put to bed, my wife takes the babies to the welfare home we are working with. I don’t make any money from this because I have my own business and I am comfortable.”

Two of the pregnant girls, Mercy and Kelechi, said they knew Nwokocha’s wife through a woman who referred them to her for treatment of stomach ulcer.

Others, however, claimed that they were only on a visit.

The pregnant girls said they were not legally married, but denied any intention to sell their babies.

Azeez