NIGERIA- Following incessant rise of baby factories in Imo State, Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development in the state, Mrs. Nma Onyechere, has ordered the immediate withdrawal of motherless babies and foster homes’ certificates.

This announcement was made yesterday in Owerri by the Commissioner, who condemned the buying and selling of human being, describing it as alien to the culture of the Igbos.

She said: “Government has revoked the certificates of all foster homes in the state with immediate effect. Similarly, any staff found to be operating any such establishment or in the habit of aiding or abetting ‘baby factories’, would be summarily dismissed from service.

“As at the last count, only 36 homes were registered in the state. Our interest in the re-certification exercise is to save lives and preserve the corporate image of the state.”

Furthermore, the commissioner said the image of the state has been dragged to the mud by the baby factory issues, hence the urgent need for the government to react and put an end to the problem.

 “In line with the current revocation of the certificates, government has planned fresh re-registration and re-certification of all such homes. Anybody or group of persons found to have defied this policy will be arrested and prosecuted,” the commissioner said