Sixteen young ladies whose ages range from 17 to 37 were paraded by
the State Security Service (SSS) in Abia State. The ladies were arrested
in the early hours of yesterday from a baby factory where they were
waiting to deliver and sell their children to prospective buyers.
Their loud cries pervaded the hall as almost all of them broke down
at the same time, weeping profusely as they struggled to hide their
faces from the cameras and newsmen.
The Director of SSS, Mr Mathew Obodoechi, who briefed the press, said
the victims were usually introduced to the centre by their close
relatives and friends, including a mother who did not want her husband
to know of the pregnancy of her daughter.
“It is unfortunate that some persons hide under the cover of
Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to perpetrate various forms of
illegal activities,” Obodoechi lamented, urging members of the public to
desist from encouraging pregnant ladies to go to baby factories for
whatever reason, whether financial or otherwise.
He warned that those who hide under NGOs to perpetrate modern day
slave trade should abstain from such illegalities as security agencies
would stop at nothing to ensure that they were apprehended and made to
face the law.
“Members of the public are urged once more to continue to give useful
information on criminal elements in their midst to security agents for
public good,” he said.
The 16 pregnant ladies were arrested at No. 3 Anyamele Street, off
Nicholas Avenue, in Umungasi area of Aba, in a building that housed one
Non-Governmental Organization called Cross Foundation International,
the director said.
Obodoechi said further that the 16 girls were kept in a very
unhygienic environment. Those found in the home were between 17 and 37
years and were at various stages of pregnancy. The foundation, which
keeps pregnant ladies who upon delivery are given paltry sum of
N50,000.00 and sent away while their babies are sold to people from
different parts of the country is run by one Dr Hyacinth, who the
command arrested this morning .
Speaking to newsmen while he was being paraded , Dr Hyacinth said his
foundation was duly registered with Ministry of Women Affairs and he
did not see himself as somebody doing anything illegal. He said the
first time he was arrested in 2004 by the police, he went to court
against the police and NAPTIP and was awarded N4million damages, which
he said the authorities were yet to pay to him.
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