CYRIACUS IZUEKWE
A 50-year old fake nurse and matron of an unregistered Flofidel Clinic & Maternity home in Ijegun area of Lagos, Mrs. Florence Douglas, has confessed to the Police that she used the home for buying and selling of new born babies. P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Edo State-born Mrs. Florence said that her main branch is located at No. 182 Ijegun Road, Ijegun, Lagos, while other branches are in Shosanya Street in Ijegun and Okonola Street in Ijagemo area of Lagos, which served as points for supplying and distribution to their numerous clients, who may be in need of babies for different purposes.
She further confessed that the male baby found in their custody at Jakande Gate in Ejigbo, suspected to be a week old, was brought to her from Gombe enroute Akure and was to be sold for N500,000 before they were apprehended.
This was confirmed by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Bala Elkana, who stated that Mrs. Florence belonged to a human traffic syndicate that will be unveiled.
He said that on 26th August, 2019, at about 3.30pm, a Police officer attached to the Motor Traffic Division of Ejigbo Police Division, while controlling traffic at Jakande Gate, Ejigbo, noticed a sort of commotion close to her traffic point. She intervened and discovered that the brouhaha was about a lady, named Gift Michael, 24, said to have been found with a new born baby.
DSP Elkana stated that in her company was her ‘madam one Florence Nkem Douglas, 50, both of Ijegun area of Isheri. They were about to be mobbed due to the alarm raised by those who had been trailing the duo from their residence in Ijegun, as the whole community had been suspecting for long their being in the business of buying and selling of babies in their clinic, but for the timely intervention of the Traffic Police woman.
“The two above named women with the baby were rescued to Ejigbo Divisional Police Headquarters, where indepth investigation was conducted. Investigation revealed that the said Florence Douglas, a native of Igueben in Edo State, who is not a registered nurse, operates two maternity clinics named Flofidel Clinic and Maternity Homes with branches in Shosanya Street, I82, Ijegun Road and Okunola Ijagemo areas.”
He said that on interrogation, the said Florence admitted to have been in the business of sales of babies for a while. She revealed that a baby girl is referred to as “PINK” while a baby boy is called “BLUE” and are both referred to as “MARKET”. She further confessed that the male baby found in their custody at Jakande Gate, Ejigbo, suspected to be a week old was brought to her from Gombe enroute Akure and was to be sold for N500,000.00. The rescued baby, who appeared sick with symptoms suspected to be jaundice, was promptly taken to the hospital for medical attention.
DSP Elkana stated that worthy of mention were pictures of about 50 different babies found inside the mobile phone of Mrs. Florence, suspected to have already been sold off. Babies are usually sold between N500,000.00 and N1million depending on their sex.
He said that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Zubairu Muazu, has ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti Yaba, to take over the investigation and ensure that other members of the syndicate are apprehended. He said that investigation is ongoing and the suspects will be charged to Court at the conclusion of investigations.