The Borno State Government said it has discovered a baby factory where
children were were being sold. The Hon. Attorney-General and
Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Kaka Shehu Lawan, stated this on Thursday during a press briefing on emerging security concerns in the state.
Five people including four women, among them a woman who delivered a
baby boy and came home without the child, and sponsors of the factory
were arrested following an intelligence report by the civilian JTF in
Gwange area of the state on September 12, 2016. A baby was recovered and
another one rescued during a raid on the factory at Galadima.
The suspects were taken arraigned before the High Court Number 13 and
are now in the maximum prison pending the next court hearing. Read the
rest of the press release below:
“I wish to use this medium to brief you and the general public on some
emerging and disturbing security concerns in the state and measures
intended to be put in place by the state government to safe guard lives
and properties of citizens and also forestall any security breach.
We are all aware of the unfortunate activities of insurgents that led
to massive destruction of lives and properties, displacement of millions
of our people and dislocation of means of livelihood, our social and
economic activities. In one way or the other, we are all affected or
victims.
However, with the new and honest commitment of Mr. President in
fighting the insurgency, we are now enjoying a new lease of life. We
salute and sincerely appreciate the efforts of our gallant security
personnel who have substantially defeated the insurgents, over ridden
their base in the Sambisa forest and now clearing the remaining pockets
and remnants from our society.
All communities hitherto captured by the insurgents have been
recaptured and many displaced persons have returned or are returning to
their localities. The state government is leaving no stone unturned to
ensure that all communities and facilities destroyed by the insurgents
are rebuilt and all IDPs are properly re-settled and rehabilitated.
Sadly however, despite all these remarkable achievements and
government’s efforts in conjunction with security agents to
consolidate, sustain and promote the prevailing peace and security
across the state, some people engaged in activities capable of
endangering our collective safety and security.
These activities include illegal operation of motor parks, chemists and
patent medicine stores, baby factories, brothels, sale of alcohol and
illicit drugs, use of shanties and illegal structures along major
streets to sell some wares, charcoal and firewood, use of wrong number
plates or unregistered vehicles and many others.
As a responsible government we shall not fold our arms and watch some
people destroy our society especially where these activities are clearly
regulated or outrightly banned by our laws. We have a duty and we
shall, with the support and cooperation of security agents and law
abiding citizens, enforce all laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
and those of Borno State for our collective and common good.
Consequently, government through its various agencies and committees hereby take and shall enforce the following measures:-
1. ILLEGALMOTOR PARKS:-
(a.) All illegal motor parks are hereby banned and should stop operations by Monday, 16th January, 2017.
(b.) All vehicles coming to or leaving Maiduguri along the routes of
Kano motor park shall load and off load goods or passengers at the Kano
Road Motor park as provided by section (15) and (32) of the Kano Road
Market and Motor park Law, 1999.
(c.) The notorious “Tashan Journey” along Kano Road shall be demolished on Tuesday, the 17th
day of January, 2017. Accordingly, all registered members of Road
Transport Employers’ Association operating at the said Tashan Journey
should re—locate to the Borno Express Terminus to carry on with their
lawful business, while others are to register with Kano Motor Park.
(d.) All Tippers and other heavy duty vehicles engaged in the business
of selling sand and gravels and usually park close to Oando filing
station along Bama Road should re-locate to the park designated for
them along Konduga Road on or before Monday, the 16th day Qf January, 2017.
2. SALE OF ALCOHOL AND OPERATION OF BROTHELS
(a.) The sale of alcohol is hereby banned throughout the state with effect from Friday,
20th day of January, 2017 except in military or paramilitary
formations (“Mammy Markets”) as provided by the Liquor Business
(prohibition) Law, 2000.
(b) Al brothels and other spots where prostitution immoral activities,
sale and consumption of illicit drugs take place are also hereby banned
with immediate effect.
(c) Those engaged in the activities in (a) and (b) above particularly in
Galadima, Gamboru, Moduganari, Wulari, Hot bite, Baga Road, Mairi,
London Ciki, Artillery and Village along Giwa barracks are hereby warned
and should take note.
3. CHEMISTS AND PATENT MEDICINE STORES
All unregistered Chemists and patent medicine stores are hereby warned to properly get registered within two weeks from today or be forced to close down.
Government will not tolerate a situation where unregistered or unlicensed persons engage in such
business that directly touches on the health and lives of the citizenry.
4. HOTELS
All Hotels operating in the state are warned not to screen or harbor criminals or promote criminal activities.
Government will not hesitate to close down any hotel found to engage in such or any other illegal activities.
5. SALE OF CHARCOAL AND FIREWOOD
Sale of charcoal and firewood along major streets in MMC and and Jere
Local Government Area are hereby banned. All those engaged in the
business should find shops or proper structures to carry out their
business otherwise they should relocate to the charcoal and firewood
markets along Damboa Road respectively within two weeks
from today. This has become necessary because they pollute the
environment and thereby constitute nuisance and health hazard to the
public.
6. ILLEGAL STRUCTURES, MARKETS AND SHANTIES
All illegal structures, markets and shanties are hereby banned and
owners or operators are advised to relocate to legally recognized
markets e.g Bolori, Abbaganaram, Kano Motor Park and Gamboru otherwise
they will be demolished within two weeks
from today. Such places not only deface the environment but often
serve as hideouts or spots for suicide bombers, criminals or criminal
activities.
7. WRONGFUL USAGE OF NUMBER PLATES AND UNREGISTERED VEHICLES AND TRI-CYCLES
All motorists and operators of tri-cycles are advised to avoid using
wrong number plates or unregistered vehicles. More often than not such
vehicles are used to commit crimes or illegal activities. The police and
other relevant authorities shall apprehend and confiscate such vehicles
and the owners or users shall be prosecuted accordingly.
At this juncture, let me emphasize that the committee in conjunction
with security agents will monitor and ensure strict compliance with
these measures and offenders will be apprehended and prosecuted
accordingly.
Having said these, I wish to assure the general public that these
measures are put in place for our common good and the state government
will do everything within its powers to protect the lives and properties
of the citizenry and create a peaceful and secure environment for all
to pursue their legitimate businesses.
I therefore urge the general public to cooperate with government and
security agencies and report any suspicious characters or illegal
activities to law enforcement agents.
Finally, I wish to thank and congratulate the theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, GOC, Police
Commissioner and all other security operatives for the successes
recorded in the war against insurgency. While urging and soliciting for
the sustenance of the efforts to consolidate on the gains made to keep
the state safe and secure, I wish to assure you of the state
government’s continued support, cooperation and partnership.
In conclusion, I urge everybody to continue to pray for peace to reign in the state, the North-East, and Nigeria as a whole.
Thank you and God bless