By Abu ‘Adnan
Lagos Nigeria (AA) - At least 19 pregnant women and four children were rescued from a "baby factory" in Nigeria’s southwestern Lagos city, police said Monday.
The women, aged between 15 and 28, were rescued from a building believed to be a safe house used for human trafficking and other crimes, state police spokesman Elkana Bala told Anadolu Agency.
"Two female suspects who claimed to be nurses have been arrested in connection with the development but we are still looking for more, including the principal suspect, who is the main figure behind the ring and is on the run," said Bala.
He quoted one of the victims as recounting that they had been abducted from other parts of the country and kept under constant watch in the house where they were raped, impregnated, and delivered babies that were then sold.
"They sold male children from such pregnancies for roughly $1,400 while females went for around $830," he said.
Incidents of baby factories are a nationwide phenomenon, with security agencies continuing to battle cases of underground dungeons, torture houses and abductions.