The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered an alleged baby‑factory syndicate in the Mowe area of Obafemi Owode Local Government, rescuing two pregnant women and four children while arresting six suspects believed to be involved in human trafficking and illegal adoption activities.
The breakthrough was announced in Abeokuta by the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, Oluborode Opeyemi, who described the operation as a major success in the Command’s intensified campaign against human trafficking and child exploitation.
According to Opeyemi, the intelligence‑driven raid was carried out on 24 August 2026 at about 8:00 a.m., when operatives stormed a hideout located on Toluwalase Street, Abaren Village via Gbarinmole, a suburb of Mowe.
He said preliminary investigations revealed that the facility had been used repeatedly for trafficking and illegal adoption transactions.
During the operation, police rescued two heavily pregnant women:
- Ilesanmi Foluke (23) – seven months pregnant
- Ejekwa Melody (20) – eight months pregnant
Four children—two boys and two girls—were also found at the scene and taken into protective custody.
Six suspects were arrested, including:
- Florence Glory Ogbona (58)
- Magdalene Julius (63)
- Chidike Egwuonwu (40)
- Onyechu Chidike (35)
- Stephen Ogbona (39)
- Oseni Kusamotu Idaya, a nurse alleged to have been attending to the victims.
The police further disclosed that a follow‑up operation led officers to a hospital within the Mowe axis, where another victim, Blessing Bright Effiong (26), had delivered a baby boy on 20 August 2026. While the mother was found receiving treatment, the whereabouts of the newborn could not be established, prompting the arrest of the attending nurse to aid in locating the missing infant.
Opeyemi said the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for deeper investigation aimed at uncovering the full scope of the syndicate’s operations and ensuring all culpable individuals are prosecuted.
He added that the Command will continue to update the public as investigations progress.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Bode Ojajuni, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to eradicating human trafficking, child trading and related crimes across the state. He urged residents to remain vigilant and support the police with timely and credible information, assuring that intelligence‑led policing will be sustained to protect all citizens.
