The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has uncovered an alleged baby factory operating under the guise of an orphanage in Owerri, Imo State, rescuing five pregnant women and five newborn babies during a raid.
The Imo State Commandant of the NSCDC, Basil Igwebueze, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Owerri on Saturday, saying two suspects, including the orphanage owner, Tochukwu Ogaranya, 52, and an alleged accomplice, Godwin Nnamdi, 47, were arrested in connection with the suspected child trafficking operation.
Igwebueze said the discovery followed a tip-off after one of the corps’ officers spotted a pregnant teenager fleeing from the orphanage located in the World Bank area of the state capital.
According to him, the development prompted security operatives to storm the facility, where they arrested the suspects and rescued the pregnant women, aged between 25 and 33, as well as five newborn babies.
He described child trafficking as a “heinous crime” and urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
The commandant also commended members of the public for providing useful information that led to the operation.
“If the residents of the state had not assisted us with the necessary information, the command would not have uncovered such a criminal act,” he said.
However, the orphanage owner, Ogaranya, denied the allegation, insisting that the facility was duly registered and not involved in child trafficking.
She explained that one of the pregnant women, identified simply as Chiamaka, had arrived at the orphanage while pregnant after allegedly escaping from a man who impregnated her in Abia State.
Ogaranya claimed she had contacted the police over the matter and that plans were underway to travel with the woman to Abia to apprehend the man responsible for the pregnancy.
She added that she was shocked when workers later informed her that the woman had scaled the fence and fled the compound before being apprehended by local vigilantes.
Chiamaka, who hails from Ikeduru Local Government Area of Imo State, however, told journalists that she was introduced to the orphanage by an unidentified person who promised she could deliver and sell the baby there.
She said she later decided to escape after finding it difficult to cope with the situation at the facility.
Igwebueze said the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.
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