By IJENDU IHEAKA

The Nigeria Police, Abia Command, said it rescued 16 pregnant women and eight children at a baby factory in Aba.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Maureen Chinaka, made this known in a statement made available to journalists in the state on Friday.

Chinaka, who did not disclose the locationof the baby factory in Aba, said the location was withheld to avoid compromising ongoing investigation.

She said the Police also arrested one Onyinyechi Okoro (29) and Ekene Okezie (32), who were alleged operators of baby factory.

According to the statement, the rescued persons are: Joy Mathew, (27), Stella Okon (22), Bella Okon (19) and Idara Emmanuel (24).

Others are: Blessing Okon, (19), Blessing Edet (20), Promise Akpan (22). Joy Edet (17), Josephine Asuquo (19) and Glory John (19).

Goodness Peter (20), Ifeoma Ozoemena (22), Victoria Robert (20), Blessed Monday (17), Victoria Liberty (21) and Anita Sunday (21) were also rescued by the Police.

Among the eight children rescued are five females – China Marvelous (11), Nancy Sunday (9), Marvelous Sunday (6), Martha Ubong (2) and Deborah Ndifreke (2).

Three male children were among those rescued are: Praise Answer (2) Goodness Destiny (4) and Victor Aniebeti (2).

Chinaka said the victims were rescued when the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) in Aba, using credibleinformation raided an alleged baby factory on March 7.

According to her, the rescued girls and children are kept by Mrs Onyinyechi Okoro from Ihechiowa in Arochukwu LGA and from Arondizuogu in Ideato LGA of Imo.

The PPRO said that discreet investigations were ongoing regarding the baby factory’s operations.

She, therefore, urged people to be security conscious and support police activities by volunteering information on suspects and criminal activities.

Chinaka said the police remained committed to protecting law -abiding citizens, adding that it would continue to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents of Abia. (NAN)