Another ‘baby factory’ uncovered in Abeokuta

Credits: Punch 

RESIDENTS of Akinremi Estate in Adigbe community of Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday, woke up to the gory sight, as a duplex littered with fresh human blood, effigy and fetish materials were uncovered.

This was coming about 24 hours after a ritualists’ den was uncovered at Abule Egbado in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

Information had it that three pregnant women and five babies were rescued from the scene. It was also learnt that a woman suspected to be the wife of the owner of the den was arrested by the police from Adigbe Divisional Police Headquarters.

One of the victims was said to have escaped from the building to another one located within the estate late Wednesday night and begged the owners of the building to protect her from her abductors. Nigerian Tribune learnt that the escapee, a pregnant woman, who claimed to hail from Abia State, while narrating her ordeals to the occupants of where she had sought refuge, said she was brought to the town by her elder sister.

The victim (name withheld) informed residents of the area that her sister sold her to the alleged ritualist for N100,000. Worried by the story, residents informed the police, who eventually swooped into the said premises and rescued some victims.

The shocking development made some irate youths to invade the premises and carried out a thorough search on it.A life scorpion was found, while items recovered included basins filled with blood and assorted charms.

Also recovered at the scene were international e-passport, identity cards of students of Sacred Heart Catholic College, Oke-Ilewo, who residents said might have been victims of the ritualists, different clothings, including white garments.

The youths, numbering about hundreds, torched the building and two vehicles, including a Toyota Camry salon car marked (Lagos) EKY 942 AJ, as well as a Mitsubushi salon car marked (Lagos) AGL 971 BH  parked within the premises.

The prompt intervention of officials of the state fire service who raced to the scene in two vehicles prevented the house from being completely razed. When contacted, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, gave names of victims rescued as Jennifer Goodluck, who is still nursing a two-month-old baby, while the other pregnant woman was simply identified as Oluchi, all natives of Abia State.

Oyeyemi further said one Muibat Yusuf and her brother, both indigenes of Kwara State, were arrested.

He also stressed that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Eleweran, Abeokuta, for thorough investigation.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, who later made an on-the-spot assessment to the area, however, urged residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious move to the police.

Source: Tribune