Lagos Baby Factory Busted: 28 Victims Rescued

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Lagos State Command, have dismantled a suspected baby factory in Okuju, Ilado area of Badagry. The late-night raid rescued 18 pregnant women and 10 children, bringing the total number of victims to 28. Two operators, Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu, were arrested on the spot.

The operation followed three weeks of intelligence gathering, according to Lagos NSCDC Commandant Adedotun Keshinro. Officers stormed the facility around midnight on Wednesday, uncovering multiple rooms where the victims were kept. One of the rescued women reportedly suffered a miscarriage during the ordeal.

Keshinro described the discovery as “a grievous crime against humanity.” He confirmed that the suspects will face full prosecution while the victims, mostly aged between 18 and 35, have been transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for proper care and rehabilitation.

Investigators believe the syndicate lured vulnerable women with promises of financial help for unwanted pregnancies. The women were allegedly offered between ₦500,000 and ₦1.8 million in exchange for their babies, which were to be sold to childless couples. Baby supplies, generators, gas cylinders and several mobile phones were recovered from the scene, suggesting the operation had run for some time.

The suspects, however, claimed the arrangement was voluntary. They insisted the women willingly agreed to hand over their newborns for cash as a form of assistance to infertile families. Authorities have rejected this defence, insisting it was a deliberate scheme that preyed on desperate and uninformed young women.

NaijaChoice News gathered that the raid has triggered fresh public outrage across Lagos and beyond. Many residents are calling for stronger monitoring of social media platforms where such illegal “adoption” deals are often advertised. Child trafficking experts say poverty and economic hardship continue to fuel baby factories in different parts of the country.

This latest bust in Badagry comes amid growing concerns over the resurgence of such illegal operations despite repeated government crackdowns. The NSCDC has vowed to sustain pressure on human trafficking networks operating in the state. Officials urge members of the public to report suspicious activities in their neighbourhoods to security agencies without delay.