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Police Uncover Baby Factory In Igwuruta
The Rivers State Police Command has arrested a 42-year old man, Mr. Stanley Okechukwu, for allegedly operating a Baby factory at Umunwenyi, Igwuruta in Ikwerre Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The Tide learnt that the suspect, who hails from Ndashi in Etche Local Government Area of the state was arrested along with teenage pregnant girls who are his accomplices and has been in the business for the past five years without the knowledge of the residents including his landlord.
Briefing journalists at the state Police Command Headquarters, Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, yesterday, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Igwuruta Divisional Headquarters, Mr. Bellow Mohammed, said the suspect was arrested by officers of his division during a tip-off on July 5th 2014 at Umunwenyi, Igwuruta.
Mohammed said that during a routine check at the suspect’s house at Igwuruta, three pregnant girls were found inside his rented apartment, adding that on interrogation, all of them confirmed that the suspect was in the business of using them to produce babies, whom he later sold at exhortant prices.
According to the DPO, the suspect goes about within Igwuruta and its neighbouring communities to convince pregnant girls to come to his residence for safe delivery and keep them until they are delivered of their babies, adding that the suspect settles the girls and sells their babies to his customers.
“We caught somebody in course of our operation. Someone who had developed a business to bring girls from all over with pregnancy and keeps them until they are delivered of babies and to whom he paid between N100,00 and N150,000 as the case may be, and thereafter sell them to his clients”, he stated.
He used the opportunity to advise landlords in the state to be careful with the kind of tenants they keep in their houses, adding that it has become imperative that they the landlords know who they are keeping in their houses.
The DPO assured members of the public, especially in Igwuruta and its neighbouring communities of the readiness of the Police to rid the area of criminalities and other social vices even as he solicited for useful information to the Police.
In his response, the owner of the Baby factory, Stanley Okechukwu, who claimed to be a tiler denied that the three pregnant girls fond in his apartment were for baby racketeering, adding that he only accommodated them in his house.
The Rivers State Government has inaugurated a Central Planning Committee to organize the celebration of the 2026 Armed Forces Remembrance Day (AFRD) in the State.
The committee was formally inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.
Dr Anabraba who also serves as Chairman of the Committee
highlighted the State Government’s deep appreciation for the sacrifices of Nigeria’s fallen heroes who laid down their lives for the nation’s peace and unity.
“These heroes have given their lives for the security and peace of our nation and deserve to be celebrated. The Armed Forces Remembrance Day is an opportunity to show our gratitude for their sacrifice,” he said.
Dr. Anabraba further extended recognition to all Security Agencies in the State, emphasizing the importance of the event in appreciating their contributions to national security and sovereignty.
The annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day, observed on January 15 across the country is dedicated to remember Nigeria’s departed soldiers and honouring the nation’s veterans.
