April 18, 2026
By SUNTV Global Channel
Operatives of the (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, have uncovered a suspected baby factory in the Badagry area of , rescuing 18 pregnant women and 10 children during the operation.
The raid, which took place late Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday in Okuju, Ilado community, led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu, believed to be the operators of the illegal facility.
According to the Lagos State NSCDC Commandant, , the operation followed about three weeks of intelligence gathering. He explained that the building, described as a large flat with multiple rooms, was being used to house pregnant women and children for illegal activities.
Preliminary findings revealed that the victims, aged between 18 and 30, were lured to the centre through offers advertised on Facebook. The arrangement allegedly involved pregnant women agreeing to give up their babies after delivery in exchange for payments ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦1.8 million.
Keshinro stated that the suspects ran a system where women were either recruited while pregnant or made pregnant, with the intention of selling the babies after birth.
“They lure pregnant women with promises of payment. Once the babies are born, they are taken and sold to buyers,” he said, describing the operation as a “grievous crime against humanity.”
Among those rescued, one of the women reportedly suffered a miscarriage, while others are still pregnant. Authorities also confirmed the presence of infants at the facility who were allegedly being prepared for sale.
Items recovered from the premises include a generator, pumping machine, gas cylinders, cooking utensils, mobile phones, baby care products, and other household materials.
The NSCDC said the suspects would be handed over to the police for prosecution, while the rescued victims would be transferred to the for proper care and rehabilitation.
Some of the victims disclosed that they voluntarily entered into agreements with the operators after negotiating online, with promises of receiving payments after delivery. However, they stated that although they were fed and given access to phones, they were not allowed to leave the facility freely.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to cracking down on human trafficking and illegal baby-selling operations, urging the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
