By Babatunji Wusu
-
The Anambra State Government has sealed an illegal baby factory operating as Mother and Child Hospital and Maternity in Umunya, Oyi Local Government Area, rescuing five pregnant teenagers and 10 others during a raid after months of surveillance.
-
The unlicensed facility was found operating with a forged medical license and run by a self-styled doctor, Odili Ossai from Delta State, who was previously at large.
-
Victims, mostly girls aged between 15 and 21, were reportedly held captive, forced into pregnancies, and newborn babies were sold through illegal adoption rings.
-
Key operators of the syndicate were arrested, and a full investigation is ongoing; suspects are expected to face charges including child trafficking, unlawful detention, and exploitation.
The Anambra State Government, in collaboration with security agencies and the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade), successfully raided and shut down a notorious baby factory disguised as a hospital called Mother and Child Hospital and Maternity located at 1 School Road near Tansian University in Umunya. This breakthrough operation culminated in the rescue of five pregnant teenage girls and 10 other individuals, following months of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Afam Obidike, revealed that the facility was operating under a falsified license and was owned by Odili Ossai, a self-proclaimed medical doctor from Delta State. Previously, the facility had been shut down in February 2024, but this recent raid targeted the resurgence of the illegal practice.
Authorities uncovered that many victims, mostly girls between 15 and 21 years old, were detained against their will and subjected to forced pregnancies. The babies born from these pregnancies were purportedly sold into illegal adoption networks, highlighting a grave human rights abuse and trafficking operation. The rescued victims are now receiving medical care and psychological support.
Dr. Obidike described the raid as a significant victory in the fight against child trafficking, medical malpractice, human rights violations, and gender-based violence. The government stressed its firm commitment to eradicating quack medical practices and safeguarding public health through the efforts of regulatory bodies such as the State Health Facility Accreditation and Monitoring Unit and the Anti-Quackery Taskforce.
The Commissioner urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious medical facilities or activities. Suspects arrested during the operation are expected to face prosecution for crimes including human trafficking, unlawful detention, and child exploitation, as the government continues its efforts to dismantle illegal medical and trafficking networks within the state.
