In what could be described as a big boost to its fight against the incidence of baby factories and child trafficking, Abia State government has destroyed a 5-storey hospital building at No. 101 Okigwe road, Aba.
The 5 storey building which houses Ezuma Hospital, Aba is being used by its proprietor, Dr. James Ezuma to harbour pregnant teenagers including the sale and adoption of babies.
The demolition exercise which came weeks after a team of policemen had laid watch on the building for a month lasted more than 2 hours under the supervision of the state Commissioner for Physical/Urban Planning and Urban Renewal, Elder Godwin Nna. It also attracted a capacity crowd while a combined team of security agents were on ground to provide security.
Addressing newsmen as the exercise was going on, Nna said that the state government embarked on the demolition in conformity with the laws of Abia State against child trafficking and kidnapping in human persons, adding that a similar exercise had been carried out in Afara-Ibeku, Umuahia the state capital.
The commissioner stated that apart from being used as a baby factory, the hospital building was erected outside the approved plan given to the owner, and warned that his ministry will not hesitate to demolish buildings or other structures built outside the approved building plans.
247ureports.com gathered that Ezuma who is a native of Ndiokeke Ndiakunwata in Arondizuogu, Ideato North local Government Council of Imo State, had on several times, been arrested by security operatives over the conversion of his hospital to a baby factory.
According to shop owners in the area, “At a time, Ezuma was arrested with over 40 pregnant teenagers and some nurses during an early morning raid by policemen. He allegedly sells babies for prices ranging from N250, 000 to N400, 000 depending on the sex desired by his agents.
A medical practitioner who did not want his name on print said the Nigeria Medical Association state chapter of the NMA in the state took the matter to the national body where he was cautioned against using his hospital to harbour pregnant ladies.
“After our national body’s persuasion to discourage him from using his hospital for the illicit business failed on deaf ears, the Association withdrew his practicing license as a medical practitioner because there is no way a medical practitioner who is meant to save lives and deliver women of their babies will in turn negotiate the sale of such baby or babies.
“It was after his practicing license was withdrawn by NMA that he went into running an NGO, Ezuma Women and Children Right Initiative where he continued with his illegal trafficking in human persons,” the medical Doctor said.
Police sources hinted that Ezuma, on being tipped that he has been declared wanted by security operatives in the state relocated to Egbu in Owerri North council area of Imo state where he continued with his business of harbouring of pregnant ladies, abortion and selling of babies until last week when he was arrested at his hideout in Egbu by security operatives.
