NSCDC Smashes Badagry ‘Baby Factory,’ Rescues 27

​LAGOS – In a high-stakes midnight operation, the Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered a suspected “baby factory” operating in the Okuju-Ilado area of Badagry. The raid resulted in the rescue of 27 individuals, including 17 pregnant women and 10 children, some of whom were reportedly lured to the facility through social media deception.

​The Midnight Sting

​Lagos State Commandant, Adedotun Keshinro, confirmed to journalists that the breakthrough followed three weeks of intensive surveillance. Acting on actionable intelligence, operatives stormed a large residential complex tucked away in the community.

​”This was not a random search; we had been monitoring the suspicious movements at this property for nearly a month,” Keshinro stated. “The facility functioned as a high-security holding cell where freedom was restricted once the victims arrived.”

​Modus Operandi: Digital Luring

​Investigations revealed a sophisticated recruitment process. The syndicate allegedly operated fake Facebook accounts, posing as philanthropic organizations or individuals offering financial aid to women in distress. Once contact was established, the conversation was moved to private messaging platforms to finalize “agreements.”

​Upon arrival, victims—ranging in age from 18 to 35—were allegedly confined. Among the rescued was a woman who had recently suffered a miscarriage.

​Suspects and Victims Give Conflicting Accounts

​Two suspects, Joy Okeke and Alfred Junior, were apprehended during the raid. Okeke admitted that the operation had recently relocated to Badagry from Ikorodu in January but refused further questioning.

​While Alfred Junior claimed the women came “voluntarily” and signed agreements for care, the victims painted a bleaker picture of exploitation. One survivor shared that she sought help out of sheer desperation after being abandoned by her partner. “I felt I had no choice, but I didn’t realize I would lose my freedom,” she said.

​Community Shock

​The raid has left the Okuju-Ilado community in disbelief. Adebayo Odunfa, Chairman of the local Community Development Association, noted that while the building’s occupants were reclusive, residents never suspected a human trafficking ring.

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​”The compound was always locked. We only saw one man who went out to buy supplies. We had no idea what was happening behind those walls,” Odunfa remarked.

​Handover for Prosecution

​Commandant Keshinro announced that the suspects and the rescued victims will be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and formal prosecution.

​The NSCDC has urged Lagosians to remain vigilant and report any unusual residential activities to the authorities, as syndicates continue to shift operations to the outskirts of the state to evade detection.