The Rivers State Police Command has burst another baby factory in the Woji axis of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area and arrested the alleged child trafficking syndicate in the state.
The police command also rescued 24 babies and four pregnant teenage girls from the facility.
Disclosing this to newsmen, yesterday, at the state Police Command Headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said the baby factory was burst by men of the Eagle Crack Squad who acted on credible information.
Omoni, who said that the four female teenagers were found in the baby factory, explained that the E-Crack team had recorded the feat by rescuing the 24 babies aged 1-2 years old, last Tuesday.
According to Omoni, “Today, I am glad to inform you that operatives of the Eagle Crack in a covert operation, yesterday (25/2/2020) at about 1530hrs, burst a child trafficking syndicate at Woji in Port Harcourt, where 24 babies between the ages of 1 and 2 years and four pregnant teenagers were recovered.
“The babies and the pregnant teenagers, who are frail and malnourished, are currently receiving medical attention at the Police Clinic, while investigation is still on with a view to making more recoveries and bringing the masterminds to justice.
“The command is hereby appealing to the public, particularly residents of the state whose babies are missing to come forward for identification and collection.
“They are also enjoined to increase their security consciousness by reporting any suspicious movement around them to the nearest police station, via the following security numbers.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Mustapha Dandaura, wishes to appeal to the public to continue to have faith in the command, as he is poised to sustain the existing peace in the state and will continue to remain professional and focused in the discharge of his constitutional responsibilities, while strongly soliciting for your support and cooperation”, Omoni added.
On the issue of late mechanic, Chima Ikwunado, and four others popularly known as the ‘Ikoku Four’, Omoni, who confirmed that the autopsy report had been submitted, quickly added that the state commissioner of police, will address the public once investigations are concluded.
He also said the police command has launched investigation into the alleged killing of a bureau de change operator in the GRA area of Port Harcourt with the view unravelling the identities of those behind the incident.
In her remarks, counsel to the Founder of the alleged child trafficking syndicate, Tender Life Foundation Initiative, Barrister Eunice Onyema Uchendu, denied that the organisation was a baby factory, arguing that there was nothing illegal about the organisation’s operations.
Responding to questions at the police headquarters during the briefing, particularly on the police allegation against the facility and its founder, Uchendu clarified that the organization was dully licensed by the Rivers State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation to undertake the business as a holding facility in the state.
According to her, “the organization is not a baby factory but a transition home where parents give their children for rehabilitation”.
Also speaking, the Programme Officer of the home, Mr. Oniche Richard, explained that the home was licensed to cater for destitute children from four local government areas of the state, which include, Andoni, Etche, Gokana and Tai local government areas.
He emphasised that the home targets orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS, and discountenance claims by the police that the facility was an illegal entity.