Soldiers attached to the Goodluck Ebele Jonathan Barracks; 14 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army in Ohafia, Ohafia local government area of Abia State on Sunday raided and rescued 21 pregnant teenagers in Abia State baby factory.

Two babies (a boy and a girl) were also rescued.

The Nation gathered a 34-year-old chef Katherine Oyechi Ngwanma was arrested in the raid while the owner of the facility who apparently got wind of the invasion fled.

The baby factory was said to have been operated by Mrs. Nma Achumba located near Umunkpeyi in Isiala Ngwa South local government area of the state.

Achumba popularly known as Nma allegedly operates the baby factory Nma Charity Home located near the the popular Umunkpeyi market on Old Umuahia-Aba road.

It was alleged she operated it under the guise of a Charity Home registered with the Abia Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

It was learnt the facility has been raided at different times with pregnant teenage girls and the owner escaping arrest.

The last of such raids before the Sunday’s operation was in November 2019 when the Imo Police Command rescued 14 pregnant teenagers and four children.

One of the rescued teenagers, Amaka Godwin, 23, said that she came into the home without her parent’s knowledge.

Speaking on the Nma Charity Center which has a Signpost written “Approved by Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development,” Umunkpeyi village head Orih Jude said they have been calling on the State Government to sanitise its operations in line with the law.

The 14 Army spokesman, Lt. Prince Innocent Omale confirmed the raid.

According to him, the soldiers acted on a tip off.

Lt. Omale informed that the rescued pregnant teenage girls have been handed over to the State Government.

In a statement by the 14 Brigade at the time of filing the report read “REPORT ON RAID OF A BABY FACTORY AT UMUNKPEYI NVOSI”

“On 4 Jun 23, troops of 14 Brigade Ohafia raided a baby factory at Umunkpeyi Nvosi in Isiala-Ngwa LGA of Abia State. The baby factory was operated by one Mrs Mma Lilian Achumba.

“Troops on arrival at the facility rescued 22 ladies out of which 21 are pregnant and 2 babies (a boy and a girl).

“Items found in the place include; a Tiger Generator, a stretcher, Gas cylinder, a bag of rice, 4 cartoon of tin tomatoes, 5 litres of Vegetable oil, 2 bags of Garri and soup ingredients.

“Troops raided the baby factory following an intelligence report that the owner of the factory was selling some of these babies to criminal agents for ritual purposes, and others for child trafficking.

“Furthermore, the woman was also reported to be constituting nuisance in the area as sometimes human parts were seen around the building.

“The owner of the baby factory is currently at large but efforts are ongoing to apprehend her.

“However, one Katherine Oyechi Ngwanma 34 years old, one of the chefs at the facility, was arrested by the troops.

“The pregnant women as well as the babies have been handed over to the Abia State Government for further actions.”

When contacted, the Special Adviser to the governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti; on Media, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma confirmed that the teenage girls were in the custody of the State Government.