Security & Crime
Police Arrest Rivers’ couple operating baby factory, made millions selling babies of teenage pregnant girls after delivery.
A couple, Chidi and Maureen Martins, allegedly running a baby factory at a church in the Rumuolumili area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, have been arrested by the police.
Three newborns, their mothers and three pregnant teenagers, were reportedly found at the facility.
Another couple ready to take away two babies bought at the church, Grate Mercy Deliverance Ministry, were also apprehended by operatives of the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team.
The operators reportedly scouted for teenagers who could not take care of their pregnancies across Rivers, Abia, Akwa Ibom and Imo states.
City Round learnt that the Martins worked with a woman identified simply as IB, who found buyers for the babies. IB is still at large.
To fast-track the criminal deal, they reportedly induced their victims to give birth at eighth month. After births, they allegedly gave them drugs that would make them sleep off.
When they woke up, they would be told the babies were dead whereas they (the babies) had been sold to waiting buyers,” a police source said.
It was learnt that the syndicate was busted recently after a relative of one of the victims, Patience, lured into the church from Akwa Ibom State, reported her missing to the IRT.
Consequently, a team of detectives trailed Patience to the church where they found three pregnant teenagers, three newborn babies and their teenage mums, including Patience.
The source stated, “One of the pregnant teenagers, Lovett, is five months’ pregnant. She is from Ngor-Okpala area of Imo State. We also found one Chisom, from Ohaji Egbema, Imo State. She is 18 years old and seven months’ pregnant. The third pregnant lady is Chioma.
“Patience was found with a day-old baby boy and two other teenagers Favour and Chizaram, were found with a baby girl and a baby boy respectively. In the course of investigations, it was discovered that pregnant teenagers were usually induced into labour in their eighth months due to demands from people who wanted to buy the babies.
“The suspects, Maureen Matins, and her husband Chidi, who used the church to perpetrate the criminal act, promised the expectant teenage mums accommodation, feeding and maternity care and assured them they would be sent back after delivery. They worked with a woman known as IB who is on the run now.
“A couple, who came to buy a baby boy and a girl from Maureen, were also arrested. They paid N3.5m. The children are those of Patience and Favour. The two babies were sold to the couple as twins. There are over seven rooms in the church where the girls were kept. Maureen said she had lost count of the number of babies she had sold.”
Another source disclosed that after selling the babies, Maureen and her husband would give the mothers N30,000 to travel back to their states.
He added, “It was discovered that Maureen had been operating the baby factory for over six years and people came from across the country to buy babies from her. She usually sold baby boys for N1.5m each, while baby girls were sold for N1.1m each. Maureen is the general overseer of her church, while her husband is an associate pastor.
A 30-year-old man, Ofobuike Damian, has appeared before an Abakaliki magistrates’ court 2 for stabbing his aged mother to death.
Damian, whose address was not provided, pleaded guilty to a count of murder.
The Prosecutor, Mr. David Njoku, Senior State Council, told the court that Damian committed the offences on March 19, 2026, at Ohatekwe, Ukawu, in the Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi.
Njoku said the defendant caused the death of his mother, Mrs. Onyema Damian, by stabbing her with a knife in the back.
He noted that the offence was punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 33 vol. 1, Laws of Ebonyi State, 2009.
The defendant, who had no legal representation, told the court that he killed his mother for refusing to bathe him.
“I don’t know what really happened, but I can remember that I killed her over her refusal to bathe me,” he told the court.
The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Chinedu Agama, ordered that the defendant be remanded in a correctional centre, as the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter.
Agama ordered that the case file and exhibits be forwarded to the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) for advice.
He, therefore, adjourned the matter to April 9.
Tragedy struck in Kano yesterday when a 30-year-old man, identified as Mutawakilu Ibrahim, allegedly stabbed his grandparents, Muhammad Dansokoto and Hadiza Tasidi, to death following an altercation over food.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Kano State Police Command, Abdullahi Haruna, said the suspect, believed to have been under the influence of intoxicants, used a knife to stab both victims multiple times, inflicting severe injuries.
The victims were rushed to the Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano, where medical personnel confirmed them dead. Their corpses were later released to their relatives for burial in accordance with Islamic rites.
According to the police statement: “On September 25, 2025, at about 9:30 a.m., a resident of Kofar Dawanau Quarters reported that one Mutawakilu Ibrahim, aged 30, had a quarrel with his grandparents, Muhammad Dansokoto, aged 75, and Hadiza Tasidi, aged 65, over a food-related disagreement.
“During the altercation, the suspect allegedly used a knife to stab both victims in various parts of their bodies, causing severe injuries. The suspect, suspected to be under the influence of intoxicants, has since been arrested.”
Haruna added that the Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Homicide Section, for discreet investigation.
He assured that the suspect would be charged to court upon completion of investigations.
A missing teenager, Master Lawal Wahab, 16, has been found dead with his heart, wrist and genitals harvested by persons suspected to be ritualists.
The deceased, until his mysterious disappearance, had been staying with his grandmother, before he was declared missing by his father, Mr. Lawal Olumide.
However, his lifeless and decomposed body was discovered along the Old Express Road, Igbile-Ijebu on July 23rd, 2025 with his remains severely mutilated.
The Ogun Police Command, which confirmed the incident, said it is investigating case, suspecting to be a ritual murder.
The spokesperson of the command, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Omolola Odutola, said officers from Omu-Ijebu Division have arrested suspects identified as Salawu Omikansola (25 years) ‘m’, Serefusi Agemo ‘m’, and others in connection with the murder.
Odutola said one of the suspects had made a voluntary confessional statement, which was also recorded on video.
According to her, investigation revealed that the boy’s head, both wrists, heart, and genitals had been gruesomely removed—suggesting ritualistic motives.
The police spokesperson, however, added that the deceased has been buried in accordance with Islamic rites due to the state of the remains.
He said: “The case file, alongside exhibits, is being prepared for immediate transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for further discreet investigation. Meanwhile, efforts are ongoing to arrest other fleeing accomplices.
“The Ogun State Police Command condemns this heinous act and assures the public that justice will be pursued to its logical conclusion.
“We urge citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police formation.”
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