The Abia State Police Command yesterday paraded 19 pregnant girls in Umuahia, the state capital.
The rescued pregnant teenagers are: Mercy Francis, 18; Valentine Ikediora, 18; Martha Joseph, 19; Tina Inau, 20; Oluomachi Friday,19; Nkechi Eze, 22; Chidinma Andrew, 19; Grace Bassey, 23; Ifunaya Chika,19; Ibe Amarachi, 18; Uduak Thomas,19; Favour Sunday, 21; Caroline Peter, 22; Chikamso Magbo,15; Peace Patrick,16; Mary Linus, 19; Gift Nwankwo, 22; Ogechi Okoro, 22 and Happy Sunday, 18.
The state Commissioner of Police, Usman Tilli Abubakar, told journalists that the teenage mothers were arrested at an illegal charity
home at Umuobia Housing Estate in Olokoro Umuahia, a suburb of the state capital.
The illegal home reportedly belongs to one Mma Achumba.
The pregnant girls were said to have hailed Abia and other neighbouring states. During the raid, a nursing mother with a day-oldbaby was rescued as the son and daughter in-law of the fleeing proprietress were arrested.
Similarly, one Kingsley Ubani from Eziama Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state was arrested for allegedly stealing the male son of one Mrs. Chioma Onu.
Upon investigation, the suspect confessed to have sold the male child to one Mrs. Nma to enable him raise money for the burial of his relation. But the victim child was later recovered and handed over to his grandfather for care and protection.
Also two hoodlums were found with three AK 47 rifles and one military rifle hidden in a bag and buried in the ground. Investigations revealed that the recovered AK 47 rifles were those grabbed from Inspectors Jimmy John and Kingsley Etuk who were shot dead recently along the Aba/ Enugu Expressway by some armed robbers.
However, three men suspected for gun running namely: Nwandi Emmanuel, 39; Ngozi Chiyere, 25, and Ekechi Emmanuel, 39; were arrested. Exhibits recovered from them are one locallymade revolver pistol and components of .8mm pistol concealed in a polythene bag. Some suspected armed robbers and car snatchers were also arrested.
They are Ikenna Chukwu who hails from Aha village in Orlu East Local Government Area of Imo State; Ndubuisi Emmanuel of Nkpa village in Afikpo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State; Moses Chimezie Amuchionu of Isingu Mbutu Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State and Kelvin Chinedu Goodluck of Umuchi Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State.
Items recovered from them are three locally made pistol, Keke Napep, one black Toyota Camry car marked LSD 478 BT, a dark grey Toyota Camry car marked DQ 231 DBU and various master keys and other incriminating items.
The police commissioner, however, said he would arraign the suspects before court as early as possible and promised hoodlums’ hard time this Yuletide season
