Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, have uncovered an alleged baby factory in the Okuju area of Ilado, Badagry, rescuing 18 pregnant women and 10 children while arresting two suspected operators.
The pregnant victims — aged between 18 and 30 – were lured through online platforms, particularly Facebook, with promises of financial rewards ranging from N500,000 to N1.8m upon surrendering their newborns.
The suspects, identified as Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu, were apprehended during a late-night operation on Wednesday following what the agency described as three weeks of actionable intelligence.
Parading the suspects and victims at the NSCDC Badagry Division in Ibereko on Friday, the Lagos State Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, said the facility was being used to harbour pregnant women whose babies were sold to interested buyers after delivery.
Keshinro said, “They are operating a baby factory where victims are made pregnant or enticed while pregnant. After delivery, the babies are taken from them and sold to customers, while the women are paid off.
“The suspects negotiate with the victims and convince them to give up their babies after birth in exchange for money.”
He disclosed that 18 pregnant women were found at the facility, although one had suffered a miscarriage, leaving 17 still carrying pregnancies at the time of the raid.
The commandant described the operation as a “grievous crime against humanity,” adding that 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 (NAPTIP) for rehabilitation.
Items recovered from the premises included a pumping machine, generator, gas cylinders, cooking utensils, baby care products, phones, mats, and food supplies.
Keshinro added that the Lagos State Government would determine the fate of the property, including possible demolition to prevent further illegal use.
Okeke, the chief operator of the facility, told newsmen that she’s only adopting children for couples who do not have any, disclosing that she has been running the facility for a few months after relocating from Ikorodu in search of a larger apartment.
“We are adopting children for people who don’t have any. I moved here recently. I moved here from Ikorodu in search of a bigger apartment. We were in Ikorodu before. We are two operating this place.
“I can talk further when my lawyer is here. I don’t want to talk anymore. If you are interrogating me, my lawyer should be present,” she said.
On his part, Agwu argued that the arrangement provided an alternative for women considering abortion, stating that most of the victims willingly agreed to give up their babies.
“There are online groups where agents connect pregnant women to us. Instead of aborting, they come here, we take care of them, and after delivery, the baby is given up based on prior agreement,” he said.
However, some of the rescued women told journalists they joined the facility after negotiating payments online. One said she was promised N1m, while another claimed she was to receive N1.8m after delivery.
A victim, who identified herself simply as Joy, said she opted for the arrangement after becoming pregnant by an “irresponsible man,” adding that she already had two children being cared for by her mother.
The expectant mothers further claimed they were fed regularly and allowed access to their phones but were restricted from leaving the facility freely.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing to uncover the network of agents and potential buyers linked to the operation.
