The premise for the 2015 Human Rights Day is "Our Rights. Our Freedoms. Always" With “Freedom” being the keyword as the world joins to commemorate the day in 1948 when the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Arm of Hope Foundation (AHF) is using the opportunity to appeal to the Nigerian government to put an immediate end to the systematic, widespread and grave human rights violations that persist in the country via “baby factory” operations. AHF is calling on the Nigerian government to show it is committed to the continued protection of the human rights of its citizens.

The emerging trend of “baby factory” being witnessed in the country is a severe human rights violation, to which fervent responsiveness must be engaged. The municipal law that addresses the process of adoption has been discarded while baby factories are being run, some in secret and some under the cover of legal recognition and coverage. Nigerian security agencies have discovered and raided quite a number of baby factories rescuing large number of victims, while bringing their perpetrators to justice.

Nigerian media had in different instances reported the operation of baby factory across different states in Nigeria. For instance, in Abia State, teenage girls were recruited to produce babies that will be sold for monies by their principals. The state police command discovered this illegal enterprise and arrested the operation. What is more startling is the fact that some of these unlawful acts are being perpetrated by people who should know better. For instance, a baby factory owned and managed by Mr. Orikara, a medical doctor located at the Nicholas Street, Aba in Abia state was raided by the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). In a similar vein, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) arrested a lab scientist, Mr. Onyemachi John, for operating baby factory in Double Research Clinic and Laboratory at Iheoji Mgboko, Obingwa local government area in the same Aba. At the arrest, he claimed he sells the babies to clients looking to adopt them; however, investigation by the security agents revealed the babies were sold customers and their whereabouts cannot be traced.

Chioma a 15 year old girl rescued by security agents revealed that because of her age, she had to be operated on and given 15, 000 naira. Investigation by the security agents revealed that the teenagers are paid the sum of N10, 000 and N15, 000 respectively for their baby, while the owners of the baby factories sell the babies at N300, 000 and N400, 000 depending on the gender of the baby. It has been reported that some of the teenagers die during the process of delivery for lack of adequate medical attention. Chioma, one of the owners of the baby factories confessed to the security agent during interrogation that over a period of time, she had sold over 18 babies.

In another instance, Mrs. Comfort Osu Abu was arrested by the Abia State Police Command for operating baby factory at Umuabuwa village, Osisioma Local Government Area. Before the arrest, she has used her home under the disguise of NGO and recruited teenagers who put to bed while she sold the babies to her customers. Also at the Umukpeyi village in the Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area, the Abia state police command raided baby factory and rescued 14 pregnant teenagers Mr. Udeviotu Onyeke, the state police public relations officer revealed. Investigation shows the baby factory belonged to Madam Nma a child trafficking syndicate leader in the state Mr. Onyeke said.

In Enugu state, the police command raided a baby factory and rescued 9 pregnant teenagers. Mr. Onyeke the police spokesperson confirmed. Also in Akwa Ibom state, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) discovered and raided a baby factory at the Ikot Akpan-Abia, in the outskirts of Uyo and arrested 18 persons in connection to the baby factory operation. Mr. Pedro Idaba, the state commandant of NSCDC, confirmed and said, investigation revealed that the baby factory operates as a medical clinic where teenagers are kept and young men get them pregnant and their babies sold. Some of the victims made confessional statement at the time of the raid and arrest.

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In Ogun state, a baby factory located at number 9 Sebanjo Crescent, off Fabolude Bus stop, Akute community, Ifo Local Government was discovered by the state police command and 8 pregnant women rescued.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgO7v9BsW-8&feature=iv&src_vid=fJ0BgtG07hE&annotation_id=annotation_379602301

In Anambra state, the State Police Command discovered and raided a baby factory, at storey building located close to Atani Police Station, Atani and rescued 13 pregnant girls, and 5 men whose duty it to pregnant the women. Also in Enugu state, Soldiers from the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army discovered and raided a baby factory at the Gariki community in Enugu and rescued 10 pregnant women.

In another incident, in Enugu state, the Enugu State Police Command raided and arrested Mr. Ikechukwu Onoh who operates a baby factory located at Etiti Amankwo Ngwo, 9th mile, Udi Local Government Area and rescued 9 pregnant teenagers. Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, the police spokesman who confirmed the operation said the teenagers rescued are Stella James, 19 years from Ohaozara Ebonyi State, Eze Jennifer, 19 years from Obukpa Nsukka local Government, Enugu state, Ugwu Christabel, 17 years from Aku Igboetiti local Government Enugu state, Happiness Mbaonu, 17 years of Nnewi Anambra state, Ovunna Ifeoma, 20 years from Ezza Ebonyi State.

Lagos Island Maternity Hospital has been alleged to be the largest baby factory in Nigeria, it is alleged that over 300 babies are given birth to in the hospital are sold out. However, at the time of this report, Arm of Hope Foundation could not verify the truth state of the alleged baby factory in the hospital.

When Arm of Foundation sought the response of NAPTIP as regards baby factory in Nigeria, Mr. Josiah Emerole, Assistatnt Director public Relation Officer of the agency said. Baby factory is known and is becoming popular Nigeria. His agency in collaboration with security agents has arrested some persons who are involved in the grave violation of human right “baby factory.”

Arm of Hope is committed to giving hope to the less privileged and vulnerable persons without discrimination of any sort, and as such we are using our voice to entreat the government to seek all necessary means to putting an end to this crime against humanity.  We are also appealing that perpetrators of this crime should be openly brought to justice. Beyond putting an end to this crime, we call for the government to direct policies and intervention aimed at improving the lives of women and girls in the country so as to prevent them from being led astray by operators of baby factories.  We call for individual Nigerians to discourage this dreadful trend and not tolerate the existence of baby factories that show a serious depreciation of our moral standards. While poverty and greed have helped to pull to pieces our moral hedges we must still find a way to our basic fundamental human rights and that of our neighbour.

By Audu Liberty Oseni
Arm of Hope Foundation.