.jpg)
The Police in Ogun State have arrested a pastor, identified as Peace Udoh, at the Divine Yard Deliverance Ministry in Iyana Iyesi, Ota, Ogun State, for allegedly running a baby factory in the church.
The accused person had reportedly sold 64 babies before she was arrested on Sunday by operatives from the Lagos State Police Command who acted on a tip-off.
He was picked alongside one his accomplices identified Angela Akpan and a nurse, Mrs. Bukola Ajala, who reportedly assisted in childbirth at Udoh’s church.
While parading the suspects on Monday at the Lagos State Police Command headquarters in Ikeja, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, said detectives raided their hideout after receiving intelligence report that Udoh needed a buyer for Goodnews’ baby.
“The suspects run a baby factory in the Sango Ota area. We are still working to get 64 other children she has sold out,” the CP added.
However, the pastor, who hails from Akwa Ibom State, refuted the allegation, saying she used the church as a maternity home to assist her pregnant church members for a token.
She said, “I have been a pastor for 13 years. I only assisted my church members during childbirth. I take delivery of 13 to 15 babies every year and I have handled over 60 cases so far. I don’t sell the babies.
“Whenever I have a complicated case, I refer the patient to the nurse and we share the money she collects for the service. Angela brought her sister to me in July. She gave birth on November 16 at the nurse’s clinic and she was discharged. I was surprised when the police came to arrest me yesterday (Sunday).”
The third suspect, Angela, said, “I am from Abak in Akwa Ibom. I took my sister from our village to the pastor when her pregnancy was four months. She was there until she gave birth in November and I paid N17,000. I didn’t intend to sell her child and I have never sold any child before.”
Goodnews, a secondary school dropout, told newsmen during the exercise that she was not aware of the plan to sell her baby.
“I got pregnant in the school but none of my boyfriends was willing to take the responsibility for the pregnancy.
“My mother would not allow me stay with her so I decided to follow my sister to Lagos,” she added.
