Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, have uncovered a suspected baby factory in the Okuju area of Ilado, Badagry, rescuing 18 pregnant women and 10 children during a late-night raid.
The operation, carried out between Wednesday night and the early hours of Thursday, also led to the arrest of two suspects, Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu, believed to be running the illegal facility.
Speaking at the NSCDC Badagry Division in Ibereko, the Lagos State Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, said the raid followed three weeks of intelligence gathering.
He explained that the victims, aged between 18 and 30, were allegedly recruited through online platforms, particularly Facebook, with promises of financial rewards.
According to him, the suspects lured pregnant women with payments ranging from ₦500,000 to ₦1.8 million, after which their babies were taken and sold to interested buyers upon delivery.
Keshinro revealed that 17 of the rescued women are currently pregnant, while one had suffered a miscarriage before the operation. Several infants and toddlers found at the facility were also reportedly awaiting sale.
Describing the operation as a crackdown on a “grievous crime against humanity,” the commandant said authorities would not tolerate such activities.
Items recovered from the premises included a generator, gas cylinders, cooking utensils, mobile phones, toiletries, baby care products, and other household items, indicating the facility was fully functional.
The NSCDC said the suspects would be handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for prosecution, while the victims would be transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for care and rehabilitation.
Keshinro added that the Lagos State Government would decide the fate of the building, including the possibility of demolition to prevent further criminal use.
One of the suspects, Okeke, claimed the facility operated as an adoption service for childless couples, stating that they helped connect families with babies. However, she declined further comments without her lawyer.
Some of the rescued women admitted they willingly entered the arrangement after contacting the operators online, citing financial hardship and promises of payment. Others said they were driven by difficult personal circumstances.
The second suspect, Agwu, also defended the operation, describing it as an alternative to abortion and a support system for childless couples. He claimed the women consented and were free to leave before delivery, though they would forfeit any payment.
Authorities said investigations are ongoing as efforts intensify to dismantle human trafficking and illegal adoption networks in Lagos State.