Police Bust Child Trafficking, Illegal Surrogacy Ring in Ogun
Police Bust Child Trafficking, Illegal Surrogacy Ring in Ogun
The Ogun State Police Command dismantled a child trafficking and illegal surrogacy ring operating as a fake orphanage. Following a raid by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit, five suspects were arrested and seven children were rescued from the syndicate.
The crackdown began after the abduction of six-year-old Samuel Honesty. Investigations led detectives to “Joyful Kids Orphanage” in Badagry, Lagos, where ringleader Joy Chiedozie, known as “Madam Joy,” was apprehended for coordinating the illicit trade.
During the raid, police found two pregnant 18-year-old women held at the facility. They admitted to being recruited specifically to produce babies for sale, with the syndicate’s driver acting as an unauthorized surrogate agent for the operation.
Confirming the development, State Police PRO, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, stated: **“During the operation, two pregnant young women, Tanimola Martins (18 years) and Favour Martins (18 years), were discovered within the facility. They confessed that they were recruited to carry pregnancies with the intention of selling their babies to pre-arranged buyers upon delivery, at a fee of ₦1.5 million per child, facilitated by the orphanage operator.”**
While Samuel Honesty has returned home, the other six rescued children were handed over to the Ministry of Women Affairs. Authorities are currently conducting welfare assessments and family tracing while hunting for the syndicate’s remaining accomplices and buyers.
The police reaffirmed their commitment to ending human trafficking and the exploitation of vulnerable women.
They urged the public to stay alert and report suspicious “orphanages” or illegal adoption activities to ensure community safety.
