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| Arrested culprits and victims |
Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have dismantled an illegal baby factory syndicate operating in Abaren Village, Mowe, rescuing two heavily pregnant women and four children while arresting six suspects.
The intelligence-led operation was carried out on Monday, August 24, 2026, at about 8:00 a.m. by officers of the Mowe Division. Acting on sustained intelligence, the team stormed the syndicate’s hideout located at Toluwalase Street, Abaren Village, via Gbarinmole, a suburb of Mowe in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area.
According to the police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, preliminary investigations revealed that human trafficking and illegal adoption activities had been taking place at the facility over a period of time.
During the raid, officers safely rescued two pregnant victims identified as Ilesanmi Foluke, 23, who was seven months pregnant, and Ejekwa Melody, 20, who was eight months pregnant. Four young children — two males and two females — were also recovered from the scene and taken into protective custody.
The six suspects arrested in connection with the operation are Florence Ogbona (also referred to as Florence Glory Ogbona), 58; Magdalene Julius, 63; Chidike Egwuonwu, 40; Onyechu Chidike, 35; Stephen Ogbona, 39; and an attending nurse, Oseni Idaya (also named as Oseni Kusamotu Idaya).
Further intelligence-led follow-up operations led officers to a hospital within the Mowe axis. There, they located another victim, Blessing Bright Effiong, 26, who had given birth to a baby boy on August 20, 2026. While the mother was receiving medical care, the whereabouts of the newborn child could not be accounted for. This development prompted the arrest of the attending nurse as part of efforts to locate the missing infant.
The Ogun State Police Command described the breakthrough as significant in its ongoing efforts against human trafficking and child exploitation. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Eleweran, Abeokuta, for thorough investigation. Detectives are working to establish the full extent of the syndicate’s activities, locate the missing newborn, and ensure the prosecution of all culpable persons.
Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni commended the operational efficiency and prompt response of the Mowe Division officers. He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to stamping out human trafficking, child trading, and all forms of violent crime across Ogun State.
Ojajuni urged residents to remain vigilant and continue supporting the police by providing timely and credible information. He assured the public that the command would sustain intelligence-led policing to protect the safety of all citizens.
Members of the public have been encouraged to report suspicious persons or activities through the Gateway Shield toll-free line 0800 000 9111 or the emergency lines 09164859299 and 09154293464.
Baby factories — facilities where young women are often held, impregnated, and their babies sold — remain a persistent challenge in parts of Nigeria. The successful raid in Mowe highlights the importance of community intelligence and coordinated police action in disrupting such criminal networks and protecting vulnerable women and children.