Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have uncovered an alleged baby factory in the Mowe area of the state, rescuing two pregnant women and four children.
Six suspects were also arrested in connection with the operation.
The command’s Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
According to Babaseyi, the operation was carried out around 8am on Monday, August 24, at Toluwalase Street, Abaren Village, via Gbarinmole, Mowe, following intelligence on alleged human trafficking and illegal adoption activities at the facility.
The two rescued pregnant women were identified as 23-year-old Ilesanmi Foluke, who was seven months pregnant, and 20-year-old Ejekwa Melody, who was eight months pregnant.
Police also rescued four children, comprising two boys and two girls.
The six suspects arrested were identified as Florence Glory Ogbona, 58; Magdalene Julius, 63; Chidike Egwuonwu, 40; Onyechu Chidike, 35; Stephen Ogbona, 39; and an attending nurse, Oseni Kusamotu Idaya.
Babaseyi said further intelligence-led investigations led police operatives to a hospital in the Mowe area, where they discovered another alleged victim, 26-year-old Blessing Bright Effiong.
Effiong reportedly gave birth to a baby boy at the hospital on August 20 and was receiving medical treatment when the police arrived.
However, the whereabouts of her newborn could not be established, prompting the arrest of the attending nurse to assist investigators in locating the baby.
“The whereabouts of the newborn child could not be accounted for, prompting the arrest of the attending nurse in locating the infant,” the statement said.
The police said the case had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Investigators are expected to establish the full extent of the alleged syndicate’s activities, locate the missing newborn and prosecute any suspects found culpable.
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating human trafficking, child trading and other crimes.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide the police with timely and credible information to support efforts to protect citizens.
