Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, have uncovered an alleged baby trafficking facility in Okuju, Ilado area of Badagry, rescuing 18 pregnant women and 10 children in a late-night operation.
The raid was carried out between Wednesday night, April 15, 2026, and the early hours of Thursday, April 16, 2026, while the rescued victims were paraded on Friday, April 17, 2026, at the NSCDC Badagry Division office in Ibereko.
Two suspects, identified as Joy Okeke and Raphael Agwu, were arrested in connection with the operation.
According to the NSCDC, the facility was uncovered after about three weeks of intelligence-led surveillance, which led operatives to a building in Badagry allegedly used to harbor pregnant women for the purpose of selling newborns.
Lagos State Commandant of the NSCDC, Adedotun Keshinro, said the operation exposed a network where pregnant women were allegedly recruited through online platforms, particularly Facebook groups, and accommodated until delivery, after which their babies were sold.
READ ALSO: Court Sentences Couple To 15 Years For Baby Trafficking In Cross River
He said 18 pregnant women were rescued, adding that one suffered a miscarriage, leaving 17 currently carrying pregnancies. Several infants and other children were also found at the facility.
Recovered items included a generator set, gas cylinders, cooking equipment, pumping machine, fans, phones, baby care products, toiletries, mats, and food supplies.
Keshinro described the operation as a “grievous crime against humanity,” adding that the suspects would be handed over to the police for prosecution, while the victims would be transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for care and rehabilitation.
Joy Okeke, one of the suspects, denied operating a criminal facility, claiming it functioned as an informal adoption arrangement for women who agreed to give up their babies in exchange for payment. She said she would only provide a detailed account in the presence of her lawyer.
Raphael Agwu also claimed the women entered the arrangement voluntarily through online groups linked to unwanted pregnancies and adoption discussions, insisting the facility was not coercive.
However, the NSCDC maintained that preliminary findings indicated a coordinated illegal operation disguised as adoption services, with investigations ongoing.