Abuja, Nigeria – (African Boulevard News) – The Nigerian Police have rescued six women from an alleged “baby factory” in Mowe, Ogun State. The operation happened after a tip-off from a concerned citizen about a possible child trafficking facility. The raid occurred on Wednesday, and the police arrested the 39-year-old owner of the facility, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the operation.
In a statement issued by Abimbola Oyeyemi, the spokesperson for the police in Ogun State, “The facility is an alleged orphanage home where young girls are impregnated and their babies sold to the highest bidder.”
The police investigation found that the victims, between the ages of 18 to 26, had been deceived into thinking they would receive employment. The owner of the facility would then take their identity documents and put them in confinement to be impregnated by men she hired for that purpose. Once the babies were born, they were sold to buyers who are willing to pay for them at exorbitant prices.
The rescued victims had been held against their will in an overcrowded and unsanitary environment. Medical examination reports indicate that they had been denied adequate medical care during their pregnancy. The Nigerian Police Force had previously arrested the owner of the baby factory in 2017 for running a similar operation, but she had since evaded prosecution until her recent arrest.
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Nigeria, child trafficking is a significant problem in Nigeria with an estimated 10,000 children trafficked to Europe annually, with some going to the Middle East and other African countries. The UNODC report highlights that Nigeria is a source, transit, and destination country for human trafficking.
The rescue operation is a significant breakthrough for the Nigerian Police Force, who have been encountering challenges in cracking down on child trafficking in the country. The police have since urged citizens to provide any information that would lead to the discovery of similar crimes.
Ogun State Police Commissioner, Edward Ajogun, speaking to the press, stated that the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the investigation is concluded. “We will make sure that these victims get justice,” he added.
The rescue of these six women has renewed calls for stringent measures to combat the menace of child trafficking in Nigeria. The Nigerian Government recently launched a national campaign against child trafficking and exploitation, which aims to raise awareness and increase public participation in the fight against child trafficking.
In conclusion, the Nigerian Police Force and other relevant agencies must double their efforts to end the despicable act of child trafficking in the country. The Nigerian Government must also provide proper incentives, policies, and programs that will guarantee job opportunities for young people, thereby reducing the vulnerability of the youth to human trafficking.
