Operatives of the Mowe Division of the Ogun State Police Command have dismantled an alleged illegal “baby factory” syndicate at Abaren Village, Mowe, rescuing two heavily pregnant women and four children and arresting six suspects. People& Society
The suspects were identified as Florence Ogbona, 58; Magdalene Julius, 63; Chidike Egwuonwu, 40; Onyechu Chidike, 35; Stephen Ogbona, 39; and an attending nurse, Oseni Idaya.
The Ogun State Police Command described the arrests as a significant breakthrough in its efforts to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the operation was conducted on August 24, 2026, following sustained intelligence about alleged human trafficking and illegal adoption activities at the facility.
“The operation was carried out on 24th August, 2026, at about 8:00 a.m., when operatives acting on sustained intelligence stormed the syndicate’s hideout located at Toluwalase Street, Abaren Village, via Gbarinmole, a suburb of Mowe, as preliminary investigation revealed that human trafficking and illegal adoption activities had been occurring at the facility over time,” Babaseyi said.
He said officers rescued two pregnant women during the raid: Ilesanmi Foluke, 23, who was seven months pregnant, and Ejekwa Melody, 20, who was eight months pregnant. Four children, two boys and two girls, were also recovered.
Babaseyi added that intelligence-led follow-up operations took officers to a hospital within the Mowe area, where another alleged victim, Blessing Bright Effiong, 26, had given birth to a baby boy on August 20. He said the mother was receiving medical care, but the whereabouts of her newborn could not be established, leading to the arrest of the attending nurse as officers sought to locate the infant.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation. Authorities are expected to determine the full extent of the alleged syndicate’s activities, locate the missing newborn and prosecute suspects found culpable.
The state Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the Mowe Division officers for their response and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating human trafficking, child trading and other violent crimes across Ogun State. He also urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information about suspicious activities to the police.