The police in Imo State yesterday
uncovered another illegal orphanage
popularly known as baby factory and
arrested the operator, Dr James Ezuma.
Ezuma was paraded before newsmen at
the home which was registered as a non
govern-mental organization known as
Ezuma Women and Children's Rights
Protection Initiative. Paraded alongside
Ezuma were 15 pregnant teenagers and
several vehicles including Jaguar and
Honda jeeps. Addressing newsmen, the
state Commissioner of Police Muhammad
Katsina expressed concern over a missing
baby who was sold to unknown persons.
He said the child was delivered on
November 24 by one Chinaza Nnachi, a
native of Ebonyi State who came to the
home when she was pregnant. The
commissioner said all efforts to locate the
child have proved abortive as the suspect
has refused to lead the police to where
the baby is.
"He took us to Abia State where he said
the baby was kept, but we were unable
to recover him," he said. Katsina said
though investigation is still on, the
assumption at the moment is that the
baby may have been used for rituals.
"When we conducted a search on this
home, 16 pregnant girls between the ages
of 14 and 19 were found. We also
recovered an automatic eight loader
pump action gun which is a prohibited
firearm," he said.
In an interview with journalists, Chinaza
Nnachi, the 19-year-old mother of the
missing child, said she was directed to the
home by a lady who assured her that she
would be taken care of. She added that
her baby was taken away two hours after
he was delivered without her consent.
Nnachi said she was given N100,000 by
the doctor when she asked about the
whereabouts of her child.
