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| The building on fire at Adigbe, Abeokuta...on Thursday. Inset: The alleged owner of the building. |
There was pandemonium in the Akinremi Estate, Adigbe, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Thursday after some youths discovered a baby factory around Vulcaniser Bus Stop.
The incident comes barely two weeks after eight women were rescued from a baby factory in the Akute area of the state.
Eyewitnesses told PUNCH Metro that the youths, who thought the building was a ritual killers’ den broke into the compound.
In a fit of rage, the youths were said to have set two vehicles ablaze as well as the one-storey building.
A traffic official, who witnessed the incident, said the youths were able to recover a blood-filled basin, coffin, mortar, calabash, effigy, assorted charms, clothes, live scorpion and other suspected fetish items.
According to residents, the building, which is located close to Redeemed Christian Church of God, Dominion House parish, was let out to an unidentified individual.
It was said that trouble began after a pregnant woman, escaped from the building.
The eyewitness said, “The place was uncovered in the wee hours of Thursday when one of the victims escaped and ran into a nearby building. She pleaded with the residents to save her from her assailants.
“The pregnant woman said she was from Abia State and her elder sister sold her to the people for N100, 000.”
It was learnt that the matter was reported at the Adigbe Police Division and the victim was taken to a nearby hospital.
It was learnt that when the police searched the building, three other pregnant women and five children were rescued.
Around 8am, however, residents, who had heard of the incident unleashed mayhem.
The eyewitness said, “On Wednesday, the police uncovered a ritualist’s den in Ewekoro area and people were still livid over the incident.
“When the youths heard of the Thursday incident, they took the law into their hands.
“They set the place ablaze, but policemen attached to the Quick Response Squad stopped them from doing more damage.
The youths refused to leave until the police fired teargas canisters.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Ikemefuna Okoye, told reporters that three pregnant ladies and five kids were rescued from the base.
Okoye maintained that the building was a baby factory and not a ritualist’s den.
The police commissioner appealed to residents to remain calm and vigilant, adding that thorough investigation would be carried out.
The command’s Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said two suspects had been arrested in connection with the incident.
He said one Muibat Yusuf and her brother who are both indigenes of Kwara State had been arrested.
It was learnt that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran
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