By Nkechi Eze
Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Lagos State Command, have dismantled a suspected baby factory network operating in the Badagry axis of Lagos, rescuing 28 victims and arresting two suspects in a coordinated intelligence-led operation.
The operation, carried out between April 15 and 16, 2026, followed three weeks of sustained surveillance that led operatives to a concealed location at Okuju, Ilado area of Olorunda in Badagry.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Corps, Assistant Commandant of Corps Babawale Afolabi.
According to the statement, the breakthrough came after weeks of intelligence gathering and monitoring of activities around the location, which eventually exposed the illegal operation.
Briefing journalists on the development, the Lagos State Commandant of the Corps, Adedotun Keshinro, revealed that the rescued victims comprised 17 heavily pregnant women and 11 others, including children, infants and an adult male.
Keshinro explained that preliminary investigations indicated that the victims were allegedly recruited through a Facebook-based scheme targeting vulnerable pregnant women.
He said the victims were lured with promises of financial compensation ranging between ₦500,000 and ₦1,000,000 after delivery.
The commandant further disclosed that the victims were kept in deplorable and unsanitary conditions within the facility, noting that one of the pregnant women reportedly lost her pregnancy due to neglect and the absence of proper medical care.
During the operation, operatives recovered several items from the location, including mobile phones, gas cylinders, a generator set, cooking utensils and other household materials believed to have supported the illegal activity.
Following the raid, the suspects arrested during the operation, along with the rescued victims, were handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Reacting to the successful operation, the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Ahmed Abubakar Audi, commended the Lagos command for what he described as a demonstration of the Corps’ strengthened intelligence-driven policing strategy and its commitment to dismantling criminal networks across the country.
He reaffirmed the Corps’ determination to intensify inter-agency collaboration and deploy technology-driven operations in the fight against human trafficking and other related crimes.
The NSCDC also called on members of the public to remain vigilant, particularly regarding online offers and recruitment schemes targeting vulnerable individuals.
Citizens were advised to verify suspicious claims and promptly report unusual activities to the nearest security agency, stressing that timely intelligence sharing and community vigilance remain vital in the collective effort to combat human trafficking and organised exploitation.
