The Anambra State Government has uncovered and dismantled an illegal baby factory operating under the guise of a medical facility, leading to the rescue of several pregnant teenagers and infants.
The facility, known as Mother and Child Hospital and Maternity, located at No. 1 School Road, near Tansian University in Umunya, Oyi Local Government Area, was raided over the weekend following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering.
Speaking at a press briefing on Saturday, the state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Afam Obidike, said the operation was carried out in collaboration with security agencies and officials of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade.
Dr Obidike revealed that the facility, which had previously been shut down in February 2024, was illegally reopened by the operator, a self-acclaimed medical doctor identified as Odili Ossai, who hails from Delta State.
“This illegal hospital was running on a fake license and was a hub for the trafficking and exploitation of young girls, aged between 15 and 21. The victims were held against their will, impregnated, and their babies sold to illegal adoption networks,” the commissioner stated.
According to him, the latest raid led to the rescue of more teenage victims and several infants, all of whom are now receiving medical and psychological care under government supervision.
He confirmed that several suspects connected to the syndicate were arrested during the raid, while Ossai remains at large. Authorities have intensified efforts to apprehend him.
“This is a major breakthrough in our fight against human trafficking, illegal medical practices, and gender-based exploitation,” Obidike declared.
He said the state’s Health Facility Accreditation and Monitoring Unit, alongside the Anti-Quackery Task Force, will continue aggressive clampdowns on unauthorized health facilities operating within the state.
“We are putting every fake and unregistered medical facility on notice. Anambra will not be a safe haven for criminal healthcare operators,” he warned.
The commissioner urged residents to report suspicious medical practices and reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of all citizens, especially vulnerable women and children.
The police and other security agencies have begun a full-scale investigation, with charges including human trafficking, child exploitation, and unlawful detention expected to follow.
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