Police rescue 10 victims from Rivers baby factories
Ten victims of child trafficking have been rescued by operatives of Rivers state police during a raid of suspected baby factories in the state.
Iringe-Koko, the command’s spokesperson, in a statement yesterday, stated that four suspected operators of the baby factories were also arrested.
She said that the victims, two adult males and 10 expectant women, including teenagers, were said to be forcefully kept in the factories after being brainwashed by the operators.
She said: “On January 7, about 4:45pm, we received intelligence on the activities of a child trafficking ring in Igwuruta and Omagwa communities in Rivers State.
“The command’s C41 Intelligence Unit operatives raided two houses (factories) at Igwuruta and Omagwa communities, where victims of child trafficking were kept. Four suspected operators of the factories, including two men and two women, were arrested by our operatives.”
She hinted that the suspects were led by a 40-year-old woman from Igwuruta community, adding that the pregnant victims were aged between 15 and 29 at the time of their rescue.
“Investigation showed that when the victims are delivered of their babies, the syndicate leader takes the babies and pay them N500,000. All the victims confessed that they were lured into the business because they were promised money to meet their financial challenges.
“The case has been transferred to the command’s Criminal Investigation Department while efforts are on to track and arrest the buyers,” she said.
