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THE NATION THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 2013
NEWS
16 expectant mothers rescued from Abia ‘baby factory’
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NOTHER ‘Baby Factory’ has been uncovered in Aba, Abia State’s business headquarters by officials of the State Security Service (SSS). Some 16 expectant mothers, including teenagers from Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Enugu and Abia states, were rescued after a raid on Cross Foundation International by operatives. Proprietor of the Foundation, located on 3, Anyamele Street, Off Nicholas Avenue, Umungasi, Aba, Dr Hyacinth Ndudim Orikara, was also arrested. Abia State Director of the SSS, Mr. Mathew Obodoechi, who paraded the women yesterday in Umuahia, the state capital, said the rescued inmates did not show any remorse. He urged the Ude OkoChukwu-led State House of Assembly to enact stringent laws that will deter people from engaging in “baby factory” business . According to Obodoechi, such laws, when in place, will discourage people from trading in children for financial benefits. He described as regrettable that the illegal business has done a lot of image damage to the state government and its people. Parading the 16 girls and the proprietor, Obodoechi said that his men got an intelligence
•Baby sold for N50,000
From Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia
report on Tuesday and swung into action. He said the ages of the women, from Enugu, Akwa Ibom and Abia, range between 17 and 37. Noting that the women were not remorseful when they were rescued the SSS chief said: “Some of them said that they have no other place to go when they are released, while one of the girls was taken to the centre by her mother who did not want her husband to know that their daughter is pregnant.” Decrying the condition of the Foundation, Obodoechi said the women were rescued from an uncompleted building which exposed them to the element without windows. Dr Orikara was keeping the women in an environment unsuitable for human habitation after selling their babies for N50, 000 (each). Most of the girls were allegedly introduced to the proprietor by close relatives. “It is unfortunate that some people hide under the cover of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) to perpetrate various forms of illegal activities in the state which is another form of slave trade,” the SSS chief noted.
Obodoechi urged members of the public to desist from encouraging expectant mothers to go to ‘Baby Factory’ for financial or any other reason, warning that his command will not relent in its efforts to rid the state of such businesses. The Nation observed that the owner of the foundation was in 2011 paraded by a former Police Commissioner in the state, Bala Hassan, for operating the same business. When interviewed, the doctor argued that he was running a genuine maternity home, duly registered with the Women Affairs Ministry in the state. One of the women, told reporters that she had an arrangement with Dr Orikara to have her baby sold after delivery for N50, 000. Some of the girls and their states are: Amaka Godstime, 18 (Enugu); Mercy Anthony, 20 (Akwa Ibom); Gift Emmanuel, 34 (Enugu); Ifunnanyachi Nwankorie, 25 (Rivers); Olumma Juliet Eke, 24 (Abia); Anurika Ogbonna, 20 (Abia); Ijeoma Emmanuel, 18 (Abia); Miracle Chidinma Nwankwo, 20 (Imo); and Aderonke Florence Orji, 19 (Abia). Others include: Uche Miracle Sunday, 26 (Abia); Confidence Nwachukwu, 24 (Abia); Chioma Godstime Kalu, 19 (Abia); Amarachi Okoye 20, (Abia); Oluchi Joy Kalu, 37 (Abia); Gift Monday, 17 (Abia); and Florence Ezeoke, 24 (Abia).
Boko Haram kills four teachers, 2 pupils in Borno Continued from page 4
lite phones as a step to stop the Islamist militants from communicating. Authorities had earlier cut the mobile network in states under the emergency rule to disrupt Boko Haram’s operations. Lt.-Col. Musa said the ban was imposed after evidence emerged that Boko Haram used satellite phones to coordinate attacks on civilians, including in two school attacks in the past week. Suspected Islamist militants fired on a school in Maiduguri on Tuesday, killing nine students. The attack followed one in Damaturu, Yobe State, which is also under emergency rule, that killed seven pupils and two teachers.
“Effective from 19th June 2013, the JTF imposes a ban on the use and sales of Thuraya phones and accesories,” Musa said in a statement handed out to journalists. “Anyone seen with Thuraya phones, recharge cards and accessories will be arrested,” the military spokesman said. The move will make it even more difficult for journalists to report from the conflict zone, something press freedom groups say Nigeria’s military has been trying to do anyway. The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) yesterday said eight of the suspected terrorists who perpetrated the Borno mayhem had been apprehended on the outskirts of
Tukur’s fate shaky as eight NWC members resign
Continued from page 4
against Tukur. “The outlook is such that anything could happen at the NEC meeting. Both pro and anti-Tukur groups are not leaving things to chances,” the source said. The PDP Stakeholders Forum insisted on Tukur’s exit in a pre-NEC message to members last night. The message, signed by the Coordinator of the Forum, Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, reads: “We have confirmed the news of the official resignation of eight members of the PDP NWC and eight deputy national officers few hours ago. The officials whose elections were faulted by INEC have signed their resignation letters, which will take effect from tomor-
row after the NEC meeting. “As we salute the courage and loyalty of these men and women, we wish to condemn the plan of Tukur to challenge NEC when he has lost all political grounds to remain in office. “The NEC must be bold enough to sack Tukur if the PDP must move forward.” Of the 36 states and the FCT, Tukur is believed to have the backing of 19, those against him are 13 and undecided or divided states are five. The Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting at the Presidential Villa last night may determine the direction of the NEC meeting. A party leader added: “I know things may still take shape before the NEC meeting. We are all awaiting the outcome of the BoT session.”
Maiduguri. In a statement, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, the Director of Defence Information, said the Special Forces have stepped up the mop-up, cordon and search operations “to ensure that the vestiges of terrorism are effectively decimated. “The DHQ has noted a number of attacks and killing of innocent citizens ostensibly carried out by terrorists in Yobe and Borno in the last couple of days. “Although this isolated incidents were undertaken by relocating terrorists, the whole trend and development remains unfortunate and condemnable. “Nevertheless, the public is hereby reassured that these incidents are by no means indicative of a relapse in the counter-insurgency operation aimed at curbing terrorists’ activities in the country.”
Fed Govt, states share N156bn From Nduka Chiejina, Abuja
THE federal government has capitulated to pressure from the states and paid N156 billion for February arrears from the Federation Account. Rising from an extraordinary Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting yesterday, Minister of State for Finance Dr. Yerima Lawan Ngama, said the arrears were paid once. As a result of the lump sum payment, the minister said augmentation for May, amounting to N92 billion, would be paid in July. At the end of yesterday’s FAAC meeting, the states and federal government shared N620.656 billion.