SSS Rescues 16 Pregnant Ladies From Abia Baby Factory

The State Security Service (SSS) in
Abia State has rescued 16
pregnant women from a home
in Aba, run by a purported Non-
Governmental Organization,
Home Cross Foundation
International, and arrested the
man in charge.

The 16 ladies, aged between 17
and 37 years, are indigenes of
Enugu, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Abia,
and Imo States, and were found
at various stages of pregnancy
at 3 Anyamele Street, off
Nicholas Avenue, in Umungasi
area of Aba.

It was gathered that the ladies
upon delivery were given the
sum of N50,000 and sent away
while their babies were sold to
people from different parts of
the country.

While denying the allegation of
involvement in child trafficking,
the owner of the organisation,
Ndudim Hyginus, said his
foundation was duly registered
with the Ministry of Women
Affairs and was only rendering
assistance to victims of
unwanted pregnancy, which he
said was not illegal.

Mr. Hyginus, who is currently in
detention, said when he was
arrested in 2004 by the police
over the same matter, he went
to court against the police and
NAPTIP and was awarded N4
million damages, which he said
the authorities were yet to pay.

A press statement by Matthew
Obodochi of the State Security
Service, warned "those hiding
under NGOs to perpetrate
modern form of slave trade to
desist from such illegalities as
the security agencies will stop at
nothing to ensure that they are
apprehended and made to face
the law."

The SSS also urged members of
the public "to continue to give
useful information on criminal
elements in their midst to
security agents for public good."