52yr old woman arrested for allegedly operating baby factory in Imo

Officials of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp, NSCDC, Imo state command have arrested a 52 year old woman, Mrs Esther Akunmadu (pictured above), for allegedly operating a baby factory in the Umutueke community in Imo state. 

Parading her before newsmen, the state NSCDC deputy commandant, Ade Micheal, said the woman was arrested following a tip off from members of the community,  a claim the accused woman denied

"She said she is a retired midwife and she runs a maternity home that has no name and no certificate." he said

A search carried out at the supposed maternity home which she opened about a year ago revealed she had four women and two one-week old babies in the premises. The NSCDC boss alleged that the woman bribed his men with N100,000 which they collected but presented before newsmen.

When interrogated, a distraught Mrs Akunmadu who spoke in pidgin English denied running a baby factory but admitted bribing the officials with N100,000. She said the day the men came to raid her maternity home, she was about going to the market to buy biscuits and sweets which she also sells and that when she saw the seriousness of the NSCDC officials, she gave them the money so that they could leave her alone and not drag her into any trouble. 

When interrogated, one of the young girls found at her supposed maternity home, said her mother actually brought her to Mrs Akunmadu for treatment until she delivers her baby but does not know if there was any other agreement between her mother and the accused woman as she had only stayed barely a week at the maternity home.

 

In a related development, the Anambra state police command arrested and paraded a couple pictured above, that specialize in stealing new born babies at various hospitals in the state.

Parading the couple before newsmen at the state command headquarters in Awka the state capital on Saturday Nov 1st, the state Commissioner of Police, Hassan Karma said the couple who are in their early twenties collaborate with some hospital nurses to steal the new born babies from their mothers while they are still in hospital.
Photo credit: Screen-grab from Channels TV news