Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, have uncovered an alleged baby factory in the Badagry area of the state, rescuing several pregnant women and children while arresting two suspects.
The raid, which took place between Wednesday night and early Thursday morning in the Okuju area of Ilado, led to the rescue of 18 pregnant women and 10 children.
Those arrested in connection with the operation were identified as Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu, who were said to be running the facility.
The victims, mostly aged between 18 and 30, were reportedly lured to the centre through contacts made on Facebook, where they agreed to surrender their babies after delivery in exchange for money.
Findings revealed that the newborns were allegedly sold to interested buyers, while the mothers were paid between N500,000 and N1.8m.
Parading the suspects and victims at the NSCDC office in Badagry on Friday, the State Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, said the operation followed weeks of intelligence gathering.
“They are operating a baby factory where victims are made pregnant, and once they deliver, the babies are taken and sold,” he said.
“The suspects entice pregnant women with offers that after delivery, the babies will be taken from them and they will be paid.”
Keshinro disclosed that one of the rescued women had suffered a miscarriage, leaving 17 others still pregnant at the time of the operation.
He added that some of the children found at the facility were also being prepared for sale.
Describing the operation as a serious offence, the commandant said the suspects would be handed over to the police for prosecution, while the victims would be transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for rehabilitation.
Items recovered from the premises included a generator, cooking utensils, gas cylinders, mobile phones, baby care products and other household items.
Keshinro said the state government would decide the fate of the property, including the possibility of demolition to prevent its continued use for illegal activities.
Speaking during interrogation, the principal suspect, Okeke, claimed the facility was involved in arranging adoptions for childless couples.
“We are adopting children to give to those who don’t have children,” she said, adding that she relocated from Ikorodu earlier in the year.
However, she declined to provide further details, insisting she would only speak in the presence of her lawyer.
Some of the rescued women told journalists that they voluntarily entered into agreements to give up their babies after delivery in exchange for money.
One of them said she was promised N1m, while another claimed she was offered N1.8m.
A victim, who identified herself as Joy, said she opted for the arrangement due to personal circumstances, adding that she already had children being cared for by her family.
The women also stated that although they were fed and allowed access to their phones, they were not free to leave the facility at will.
Agwu, who was also arrested, claimed the arrangement provided an alternative for women considering abortion and an avenue for childless couples to adopt.
“There are agents online who connect these women to us. They come voluntarily and agree to give up their babies after delivery,” he said.
He added that most of the women were already pregnant before arriving at the facility and were promised compensation upon delivery.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing to track other individuals linked to the operation.
