Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, have uncovered an alleged baby factory in the Okuju area of Ilado, Badagry, rescuing several victims and arresting two suspects.
The raid, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29, led to the rescue of 18 pregnant women and 10 children from the facility.
Two persons identified as Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu were arrested in connection with the operation of the centre.
According to findings, the victims, aged between 18 and 30, were lured through a Facebook platform with promises of payments ranging from N500,000 to N1.8 million in exchange for their babies after delivery.
The Commandant of NSCDC in Lagos State, Mr. Adedotun Keshinro, disclosed this while parading the suspects and victims before journalists.
He explained that the operation followed actionable intelligence gathered over a three-week period, which led operatives to storm a residential building allegedly used for the illegal activity.
Keshinro described the facility as a baby factory where pregnant women were harboured and their babies sold to interested buyers upon delivery.
He said some of the victims were already heavily pregnant, while others had previously delivered babies that were taken from them.
According to him, one of the pregnant women suffered a miscarriage, leaving 17 others currently carrying pregnancies at the time of the operation.
He added that some infants found at the facility were already being prepared for sale, as arrangements were ongoing with prospective buyers.
The NSCDC boss said the suspects would be handed over to the police for prosecution in line with the law.
He also disclosed that the rescued victims would be transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further care and rehabilitation.
Items recovered from the premises include a pumping machine, generator, gas cylinders, cooking utensils, mobile phones, mats, toiletries, baby care products, and food items.
