Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, have uncovered a suspected “baby factory” in Okuju, Ilado, Badagry.
During a raid, the authorities rescued 18 pregnant women and 10 children and arrested two suspects identified as Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu from the illegal facility.
The raid, carried out late on Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday after three weeks of intelligence gathering, targeted a large flat with multiple rooms where the victims were being kept.
IN PICTURES: Authorities raid Lagos ‘baby factory’
Preliminary enquiries indicate the women were recruited via adverts or posts on Facebook and entered agreements to surrender their babies after delivery in return for payments reported to range from N500,000 to N1.8 million.
The rescued women, said to be aged between 18 and 30, were presented at the NSCDC office in Ibereko, Badagry Division. Some had arrived at the facility with young children and infants who were also allegedly intended for sale.
State commandant Adedotun Keshinro described the operation as a “grievous crime against humanity,” saying suspects will be handed to the police for prosecution while the victims will be transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for care.
Authorities reported one of the women had miscarried, 17 remain pregnant, and that older babies were also found at the premises.
Items recovered from the premises included a breast pump, generator, standing fans, gas cylinders and burner, cooking pots, mobile phones, mats, toiletries, baby-care products, tableware and various foodstuffs.
At a briefing, Okeke — who said she moved to Badagry from Ikorodu in January and described the operation as “adopting children to give to those who don’t have children” — declined to discuss prices or how victims were brought to the facility, insisting she would speak only with her lawyer present.
Several of the women told journalists they had negotiated online with the operator to surrender their babies in exchange for payment. One said she was promised N1 million, another N1.8 million.
The women said they were fed and allowed phone access and medical care when needed but were not free to leave the premises at will.
