She Took the Job for the Money and Lost Herself

Operatives of the Abia State Police Command in a successful operation on Thursday night, uncovered a baby factory in Aba, rescuing 16 pregnant women and eight children, consisting of five males and three females.

The Rapid Response Squad, spearheading the operation, revealed that the rescue mission was initiated based on credible information provided by local residents. The facility, a four-story building with ten flats and an adjacent structure in the same compound, was the focus of the operation.

During the raid, 16 pregnant women were apprehended, along with one of the facilitators named Onyinyechi, who was also pregnant, and another individual named Ekpene (male) residing in the compound. Eight children were successfully recovered during the operation.

The police are actively pursuing other occupants of the facility, and investigations are already underway. The authorities are determined to track down all involved parties.

Speaking on the incident, Mrs. Ngozi Felix, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, represented by the Permanent Secretary Mrs. Ogechi Oguama, expressed relief on International Women's Day, welcoming back the rescued women who she referred to as "social mothers" on their path to recovery. She assured that the women would be kept in good custody during the ongoing investigation.

Mrs. Felix lamented that many of these incidents are driven by poverty and urged parents to communicate openly with their children, guiding them in the right traditions.

Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the state governor, commended the police and other security agencies for their commitment and professionalism in handling the situation. He emphasized the government's dedication to restoring peace and security in the state.

Ekeoma urged the public to support the police with credible information, emphasizing that the government would ensure the proper prosecution of those involved. He appealed to parents to discourage their children from engaging in such activities, describing it as immoral and against societal norms.

The rescued "social women" largely attributed their involvement to parental abandonment, shedding light on the socio-economic challenges contributing to such unfortunate circumstances.