The Ogun State Police Command, on Friday, paraded 10 suspects in connection with a baby making factory located at Sebanjo Crescent, Fagbunle Bus Stop at Akute area of the state.
Eight of the suspects were pregnant young women, whose ages range from 16 to 21.
According to reports, the factory was being run by the prime suspect, Angela Chidozie, who also lived in the four-bedroom bungalow with her husband and children. Her husband was said to be currently on the run.
The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikemefuna Okota, said the arrest was made possible following information from the community.
He said, “I have stressed the importance of community policing. We got information yesterday that Chidozie was keeping pregnant juveniles in her house.
“After the mothers give birth, Chidozie would sell the babies for N3m or more while the mother of each child would be given a pittance. When we got to Chidozie’s house yesterday, there was no one in sight. We left and when we later returned, we discovered that five of the girls were hiding in one room.
“They were immediately taken into custody. Three more girls were later discovered to have been hiding in a wardrobe in one of the rooms by the policemen that we left behind. In fact, one of them fainted and had to be rushed to the hospital.”
Chidozie was later found in a dilapidated wooden building in the vast compound where she reportedly hid.
Okoye added, “Some syringes and herbal medications were recovered from the scene. Investigation is on to unravel Chidozie’s partners because she was definitely not working alone.”
Chidozie, an indigene of Abia state told Saturday PUNCH that all the girls had come to her after they were impregnated.
She said, “I have been in this business since last year; I also combine it with herbal medicine. These girls came to me on their own to assist them sell their babies and I sell each for N100,000 to childless couples. I have sold five babies so far. I don’t have any baby making factory because the girls did not get pregnant when they were with me.”
One of the mothers, 21-year-old Vivien Princewill, who wept profusely, said she was advised by a friend to see Chidozie.
She said, “When I found out I was pregnant, I couldn’t tell my boyfriend. A friend of mine who was aware of my predicament, directed me to Chidozie’s house.”
Society