Police Uncover Ogun Baby Factory, Recover Four Children and Rescue Pregnant Women
The Ogun State Police Command has discovered an alleged baby factory in Mowe where four children were recovered, two pregnant women rescued and six suspects arrested.
The operation was carried out on August 24 at a suspected facility in Abaren Village, Mowe, following intelligence about alleged human trafficking and illegal adoption activities.
The police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said that four children, two boys and two girls, were picked up during the operation. Two pregnant women, Ilesanmi Foluke (23) and Ejekwa Melody (20), were also rescued.
Follow-up investigations by the police led them to a hospital in the Mowe area where another woman, Blessing Bright Effiong, 26, had allegedly given birth to a baby boy on August 20, the police said.
But police said they were unable to determine the location of the newborn during the mother’s treatment. The nurse who was present, Oseni Idaya, was then arrested as investigators pressed on to find the baby.
Five other suspects were arrested in the operation. The police indicated that the case was remanded to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
The operation demonstrates the grave dangers children face when criminal networks use the pregnancy, birth and adoption process for trafficking or illegal child transfers from a child protection perspective.
The investigation is likely to determine who the children were, who is responsible for the alleged activities and where the missing newborn is.
The police appealed to the public to give credible information which would help in the prevention of child trafficking and protection of children from exploitation.
