SECURITY & CRIME
LAGOS — Verified: A Lagos baby factory busted his week after operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, raided a facility in Okuju, Ilado, Badagry area of Lagos State.
The operation was carried out Wednesday night into the early hours of Thursday, April 17, 2026. NSCDC operatives rescued *18 pregnant women and 10 children*, and arrested two suspects linked to the illegal operation.
How Lagos Baby Factory Busted Operation Happened
The raid followed three weeks of actionable intelligence. Operatives swooped on a building containing multiple rooms housing the victims. The suspects were identified as Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu.
Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adedotun Keshinro, confirmed the details while parading the victims at the NSCDC office, Badagry Division, Ibereko, on Friday.
He said: “They are operating a baby factory where victims are made pregnant. When the babies are delivered, they are sold.”
Keshinro explained that the suspects enticed victims through an offer advertised on Facebook. The pregnant women were told they would be paid after delivery.
He added: “The suspects entice pregnant victims to come and negotiate with them that when they deliver the babies, the babies will be taken from them, and they will be paid off.”
Payments Made To Victims After Lagos Baby Factory Busted
According to the NSCDC, the pregnant women had their children sold after delivery. They were paid between *N500,000 and N1.8 million* per child.
Some of the women came to the centre with infants and toddlers who were also up for sale to willing buyers. The victims are aged between 18 and 30.
“When they deliver the babies, the babies are taken from them to be sold to customers, and the victims are paid off,” Keshinro said.
He further noted: “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.”
Why Lagos Baby Factory Busted Case Matters
Baby factories remain a recurring security issue in Nigeria. Victims are often vulnerable women lured by financial hardship or false promises of shelter and care.
The Lagos State NSCDC said the Badagry case is under active investigation. The suspects have been transferred for prosecution. The rescued women and children are receiving medical attention and psychological support.
This is not the first such case in Lagos. On April 5, 2025, the Lagos State Police Command dismantled an illegal baby factory in the Ijegun area. Officers rescued 11 individuals and arrested three suspects. That operation also began with a tip-off.
CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Command’s spokesperson, said at the time that victims were abducted from various parts of Lagos to be exploited in the scheme. Police confirmed the suspects confessed and remained in custody pending charges.
What Happens Next After Lagos Baby Factory Busted
The NSCDC Lagos Command said it will continue to work with other security agencies to track and dismantle similar operations. The Corps urged the public to report suspicious activities in their communities.
Keshinro warned that facilities operating without proper registration and preying on vulnerable women will face the full weight of the law. Investigations are ongoing to identify buyers and other members of the trafficking network.
The rescued victims will be profiled and handed over to the appropriate government agencies for rehabilitation and reintegration.
