The Rivers State Police Command on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, said its operatives arrested a 17-year-old boy (name withheld), and Chigozie Ogbonna, 29, for allegedly working for a baby factory.
Also arrested were two female suspects, Favour Bright, 30; and Peace Alikoi, 40, the alleged leader of the syndicate.
The four suspects reportedly operated in Obio/Akpor and Ikwerre local government areas of the state.
Also, the police said 10 pregnant girls were rescued.
Grace Iringe-Koko, the police spokesperson, in a statement in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, said the feat followed a tip-off which the command acted on.
The statement read, “On Saturday, January 7, 2023, around 4.45pm, while acting on credible intelligence available to the Rivers State Police Command, C4I Intelligence Unit operatives raided two houses at Igwuruta and Omagwa communities respectively, where victims of child trafficking were being kept.”
The police said Uzuchi and Ogbonna were hired by the syndicate to have marathon sex with the girls and impregnate them.
“The victims rescued in the operation are 10, most of them pregnant..”
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police, said investigations revealed that when a victim was delivered of her baby, the syndicate leader kept the child and paid her a sum of N500,000.
The police image maker disclosed that some of the babies previously delivered in the houses had been sold.
She said, “All the victims confessed that they were lured to the illicit sales of children because of the need to meet some financial challenges. A Honda Pilot Jeep, white, was recovered from the syndicate leader.
“The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department and efforts are being intensified to track and arrest the buyers of the children already sold out.”
I Thought She Was My Wife – Father Who Impregnated 13-year-old Daughter Says
A 39-year-old man identified as Mfon Jeremiah has been apprehended by the police for impregnating his 13-year-old biological daughter (name withheld) in FIRRO Estate off Adesan, Mowe, Ogun State.
The suspect was arrested after the victim’s mother lodged a complaint at Mowe divisional headquarters.
She explained that she noticed that her daughter was pregnant and when she inquired from the daughter who was responsible she was informed that it was the girl’s father who impregnated her.
The victim was taken to a hospital where it was confirmed that she is four months pregnant.
After receiving the report, the DPO Mowe division, SP Folake Afeniforo, quickly detailed detectives to the suspect’s house where he was promptly arrested.
During interrogation, the suspect confessed to committing the crime.
However, he stated that he was under a spell when he carried out the incestuous act, adding that he was dreaming of having sex with his wife who has separated from him for some time now, only to discover that it was her daughter that he had sex with.
Abimbola Oyeyemi, the state police spokesperson, who confirmed the situation said the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Bankole, has ordered that the suspect be transferred to the anti-human trafficking and child labour unit of the state Criminal Investigation Departments for further investigation and possible prosecution.
