NSCDC busts Lagos baby factory, rescues 28 victims

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, have uncovered an alleged baby factory in the Badagry area of the state, rescuing 18 pregnant women and 10 children.

 

The operation, carried out in Okuju, Ilado, followed three weeks of intelligence gathering, leading to the arrest of two suspects identified as Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu.

 

Parading the suspects and victims on Friday, the State Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, said the facility was used to house pregnant women whose babies were sold after delivery.

 

“They are operating a baby factory where victims are made pregnant. When the babies are delivered, they are sold,” Keshinro said.

 

According to him, the victims—mostly aged between 18 and 30—were lured through social media platforms with promises of financial compensation ranging from N500,000 to N1.8 million after childbirth.

 

He added that while 18 women were found pregnant, one had suffered a miscarriage, leaving 17 currently expecting.

 

Investigations revealed that some of the women also arrived at the facility with existing children, who were allegedly being negotiated for sale to interested buyers.

 

Items recovered from the premises included a generator, gas cylinders, phones, baby care products, and other household materials.

 

Keshinro described the operation as exposing a “grievous crime against humanity,” noting 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 care and rehabilitation.

 

One of the suspects, Okeke, claimed the operation was an adoption service for childless couples, but declined further comment without legal representation.

 

Some of the rescued women told journalists they willingly entered into agreements to surrender their babies after delivery in exchange for money, often due to financial hardship or unwanted pregnancies.

 

Authorities say investigations are ongoing, while the Lagos State Government is expected to determine the fate of the facility.