The Nigerian Army in Abia State on Sunday, June 4 conducted a raid operation at a baby factory at Umunkpei Nvosi in Isiala-Ngwa Local Government Area allegedly run by an indigene of the area.
During the operation, the soldiers rescued 22 ladies out of which 21 are pregnant, including 2 babies (a boy and a girl).
Items recovered from the factory during the operation included: Tiger generator, a stretcher, gas cylinder, a bag of rice, 4 cartoons of tin tomatoes, 5 litres of Vegetable oil, 2 bags of garri and soup ingredients.
The raid followed an actionable intelligence report that the operator of the factory was trading some of the babies with ritualists, and others for child trafficking.
It was alleged that the woman in question has been disturbing public peace within the vicinity and that sometimes, human parts were found around the building.
A member of the troop reported that the owner of the baby factory escaped arrest but efforts are in the top gear to bring her to book.
However, one Katherine Oyechi Ngwanma, a 34-year-old chef at the facility, was apprehended by the Nigerian Army.
The pregnant women, alongside the babies, are currently under the care of Abia State Government for further action.
Every attempt to reach the new Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Chinaka Maureen, for his reaction were not successful.
The troops were led by the Army Public Relations Officer, 14 Brigade Ohafia, Lt Omale Innocent Prince, and the Media Adviser to Governor Alex Otti, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma.
While fielding questions from journalists after the raid, Ekeoma praised the Nigerian Army, noting that there was no reason “this kind of thing should be happening in any part of Abia State”.
He, thereby, gave assurance that the state government will partner the security agencies to conduct an intensive investigation on the matter.
Otti’s government, according to him, would not condone such incident in any part of the state henceforth.
