Police Rescue 32 Expectant Mothers from Nigerian Baby Trafficking Operation

Dr. Hycinth Orikara, the proprietor of The Cross Foundation and employee of the Abia State Health Management Board (ASHMB) is alleged with running a” maternity home described by the police as “illegal Baby Factory” in Aba, Abia State.”

“Commissioner of Police Bala Hassan said that the syndicate (Orikara) provides food and shelter for the inmates who in-turn produce babies for him to sell, adding that it was inhuman for medical personnel to engage in such activity.

Hassan alleged that some of the babies are in most cases sold to ritualists, who in turn use them for different rituals, stressing that the police will not relent until are such criminal activities have been banished from the state.

The police commissioner said that baby factory Orikara and the inmates will soon be charged to court for child trafficking, child labour and abuse after thorough investigations would have been concluded.”

Thirty-two teenaged expectant mothers were rescued from the maternity home called The Cross Foundation.

“According to the police, the babies are usually taken away and their mothers discharged after being paid certain amounts ranging between N25, 000 and N30, 000, depending on the sex of the babies.

Parading the proprietor, who was accused of paying off the teenage mothers N30, 000 for a male child and N25,000 for a female baby, the Abia police claimed that such babies are thereafter sold to the highest bidders.”

“Orikara informed that the parents and guardians of the inmates are aware of the whereabout of their children and wards, adding that the foundation is being sustained with donations by public-spirited individuals.

However, Ifeoma Orji, an 18-year-old inmate and a student of Girls High School, Umuahia, contradicted the proprietor’s claim with her admittance that a friend had introduced her to the clinic about two weeks ago.

Another inmate, who simply identified herself as Chikwendu, confirmed that she earned N25, 000 after her baby was sold immediately after delivery.”

Police rescue 32 expectant teenage mothers from Abia ‘baby factory’
[The Nation Online English 5/31/11 by Ugochukwu Eke]

Nigeria was the 10th most popular sending country to the US. In FY2010, Nigeria placed 189 children to the US, up from 110 in FY2009. Nigeria is not a Hague Convention country.

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