In a targeted overnight raid between Wednesday and Thursday, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) dismantled an illegal “baby factory” in the Okuju, Ilado area of Badagry, Lagos.
The operation resulted in the rescue of 18 pregnant women and 10 children, as well as the arrest of two operators, Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu.
Lagos State Commandant Adedotun Keshinro disclosed the details during a press parade at the Badagry office, noting that the bust followed three weeks of intensive surveillance and actionable intelligence.
Interrogations revealed a disturbing commercial element to the facility – one victim admitted to a payout agreement of N1m, while another cited a deal worth N1.8m for her child.
Keshinro said: “They are operating a baby factory where victims are made pregnant. When the babies are delivered, they are sold.
“The suspects entice the victims who are pregnant to come and negotiate with them that when they deliver the babies, the babies will be taken from them and they’ll be paid off.
“When they deliver the babies, the babies will be taken from them to be sold to their customers, and the victims will be paid off.
“There are 18 victims who are fully pregnant, but one of them had a miscarriage. So, 17 of them are currently carrying pregnancies. And there are other babies there who are grown, and they are also here on negotiation to be sold to interested buyers.
“We will hand over the place (a big flat containing many rooms) to the state government. The state government may decide to demolish the place so that they will not be able to continue to use it for that activity.”
The NSCDC Commandant said they would be handed over to the police for prosecution, while the victims would be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP.
Meanwhile, Okeke, the chief operator of the facility, told newsmen she adopted children for those who do not have any.
Okeke said: “We are adopting children to give to those who don’t have children. I have been doing this for some months.
“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.”
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