ONE BABY,FOUR PREGNANT WOMEN RESCUED AS POLICE RAIDS ABIA HOSPITAL

The Abia State Police Command has arrested two nurses and rescued four pregnant ladies, one of them with a two-year-old baby, during a raid at a hospital allegedly used as a baby factory.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna , told PUNCH Metro that the police were still on the trail of the Medical Director of the hospital located at Ihie Umudem Isuochi in the Umunneochi Local Government Area of Abia State.

The PPRO, who stated that the yet-to-be-identified MD fled during the raid on the hospital, explained that the doctor and the nurses were using the hospital as shelter for young women with unwanted pregnancies.

He added that the hospital would buy off the babies upon delivery and, in turn, sell them to willing buyers.

He gave the name of the lady with a little baby as Sopuruchi from Eneka in Port Harcourt , Rivers State, adding that efforts were on to re-unite her and other victims, who he explained were non-Abians, with their family members.

Ogbonna said, “We will arrest the doctor and prosecute him along with the arrested suspects. The police are using this opportunity to warn dubious medical practitioners and charity homes in the state that use their facilities as baby factories to desist from the wicked act or face the wrath of the law.”

The police also paraded some suspected kidnappers and robbers arrested at different parts of the state.

The PPRO said continuous raids of suspected criminal hideouts in the state led to the arrest of over 150 suspects since August.

He said about 50 had been arraigned in court, while those arrested for drug-related offences were transferred to the Enugu zonal office of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The police spokesman said, “Officers and men of the command are adopting several proactive measures and strategies to curb criminal activities in the state as the Christmas and New Year festivities approach.

“One of these led to the rescue of one kidnap victim, Ugo Ajieke, of Power Line in the Obingwa LGA who was abducted in front of the gate to his house.”

He reiterated police preparedness to rid Abia of criminals and provide security for all residents of the state.