Two people have been arrested on human trafficking charges in Lagos while 19 pregnant young women and four children after raids on four ‘baby factories’ in the state.
The suspects, Happiness Ukwuoma and Sherifat Ipeya, were arrested during a raid by men of the Lagos State police command; while the principal suspect, one Madam Oluchi, absconded after she got wind of the raids.
The Public Relations Officer of the Lagos state police command, Bala Elkana, says in a statement that a manhunt has been launched for Oluchi, adding that the suspects were operating as nurses at the ‘baby factories’ despite not having formal medical training.
He stated that Oluchi and her accomplices usually tricked their victims from different states of the federation with promises of employment opportunities in Lagos, but abduct them for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling their babies.
Elkana said, “On Thursday, September 19, 2019, around 4pm, acting on the strength of information from a reliable source, detectives from the Isheri Osun Police Station, led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Chike Ibe, stormed a building at No. 14, Adisa Street, Ayanwale area, Ikotun, Lagos, suspected to be used for child trafficking.
“Nineteen pregnant women from the ages of 15 to 28 were rescued and four kids were also rescued.
“They were all rescued from four different locations – No. 32, Owosho Street, Governor Road, Ikotun; No. 29, Olugbeyohun Street, Olakunle bus stop, Abaranje; No. 4/6, Anomo Street, Abaranje; and No. 14, Adisa Street, Ayanwale area, Ikotun.
“The pregnant women were brought in from Rivers, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Abia and Imo states.
“Two suspects, Happiness Ukwuoma, 40; and Sherifat Ipeya, 54, were arrested in connection with the case.
