Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, have uncovered an alleged baby factory in the Okuju, Ilado area of Badagry, rescuing 18 pregnant women and 10 children during a late-night operation.
The raid, carried out between Wednesday night and the early hours of Thursday, led to the arrest of two suspects identified as Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu, who were said to be running the facility.
According to the NSCDC, the victims—aged between 18 and 30—were lured to the centre through offers advertised on Facebook, where they agreed to surrender their babies after delivery in exchange for payments ranging from N500,000 to N1.8 million.
The Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adedotun Keshinro, said the operation followed three weeks of intelligence gathering, which revealed that the suspects were operating a coordinated scheme involving pregnant women and the sale of newborns.
“They are operating a baby factory where victims are made pregnant. When the babies are delivered, they are sold,” Keshinro said, adding that the women were enticed with financial offers and had their babies taken from them immediately after childbirth.
He disclosed that of the 18 rescued pregnant women, one had suffered a miscarriage, leaving 17 still carrying pregnancies, while several children found at the facility were also allegedly being prepared for sale.
Keshinro described the operation as 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 rehabilitation and support.
Items recovered from the premises included a pumping machine, generator, gas cylinders, cooking utensils, phones, baby care products, and assorted household items.
The NSCDC boss added that the Lagos State Government would take over the facility, which could be demolished to prevent further illegal activities.
During interrogation, the prime suspect, Okeke, claimed she was running an adoption service for childless couples and had recently relocated from Ikorodu to Badagry in search of a larger space. She, however, declined to provide further details, insisting she would only speak in the presence of her lawyer.
Some of the rescued women told journalists they willingly entered into agreements with the operators after being contacted online, agreeing to hand over their babies in exchange for money. While they said they were fed and allowed limited access to phones and medical care, they were not permitted to leave the facility freely.
Agwu, who described himself as a housekeeper, claimed the arrangement provided an alternative to abortion and helped couples seeking children, insisting that the women consented to the terms before delivery.
He said many of the women were referred through online groups focused on adoption and unwanted pregnancies, adding that the promise of financial reward attracted them to the facility.
Authorities say investigations are ongoing as efforts continue to dismantle similar operations and prosecute those involved.
