Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Lagos state have uncovered an alleged baby factory in the Badagry area, rescuing 18 pregnant women and 10 children and arresting two suspects.
Officials said the operation was carried out late Wednesday into early Thursday in Okuju, Ilado, following three weeks of intelligence gathering.
State Commandant Adedotun Keshinro said the facility housed women who were recruited online, primarily through Facebook, with promises of payment in exchange for their babies after delivery.
“They are operating a baby factory where victims are made pregnant, and when the babies are delivered, they are sold,” Keshinro said.
According to authorities, the women — aged between 18 and 30 — were promised payments ranging from 500,000 naira ($300) to 1.8 million naira ($1,100) after giving birth. Some of the women already had children with them at the facility, while one victim reportedly suffered a miscarriage.
The victims were presented at the NSCDC office in Badagry on Friday.
Keshinro described the operation as a “grievous crime against humanity,” adding that the suspects would be transferred to the police for prosecution, while the victims would be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons for care and rehabilitation.
Authorities said items recovered from the premises included generators, gas cylinders, phones, baby care products and food supplies.
One of the suspects, Joy Okeke, denied wrongdoing, saying the facility was used to arrange adoptions for couples unable to have children.
“We are adopting children to give to those who don’t have children,” she said, adding that she recently moved the operation from Ikorodu to Badagry. She declined further comment without legal representation.
Another suspect, Raphael Agwu, said the women came voluntarily after being contacted through online groups discussing adoption and unwanted pregnancies.
“They were already pregnant and decided to give birth for adoption,” he said, adding that participants agreed to surrender their babies in exchange for financial compensation.
Some of the rescued women told reporters they entered agreements to hand over their babies after delivery in return for payments of up to 1.8 million naira. They said they were fed and allowed limited phone use but could not leave the facility freely.
Authorities said the Lagos state government will determine the fate of the building, including the possibility of demolition.
