The Ogun State Police Command has dismantled a major child trafficking and illegal surrogacy syndicate operating under the cover of an orphanage facility, rescuing seven children and arresting five key suspects in a coordinated operation that exposed a ₦1.5 million-per-baby sales racket.
In a statement released by the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, Eleweran, Abeokuta, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, the Command confirmed that the breakthrough was achieved by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department following the transfer of a child abduction case from the Idanyin Divisional Headquarters for comprehensive investigation.
The operation was triggered by a report filed on November 28th, 2025, by a woman identified as Amara, who reported the abduction of her six-year-old son, Samuel Honesty. Initial investigations led to the arrest and prosecution of two suspects linked to the case before detectives intensified efforts at the SCID.
On January 21st, 2026, the missing child was later found at Gowon Police Station in Lagos State, where he revealed that he had been taken to Joyful Kids Orphanage in Badagry and identified the operator of the facility as Madam Joy.
Acting swiftly on the intelligence, police operatives stormed the orphanage, rescuing six additional children and bringing the total number of minors recovered to seven. The rescued children were identified as Ramsey Chiedozie (8), Rafael Rofiu (6), Kazeem Chiedozie (6), Segun Uthman (9), Ola Abdulhakeem Abdulrasheed (9), David Oyelese (9) and Samuel Honesty (6).
Samuel has since been safely reunited with his mother, while the remaining six children were handed over to the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for protective care, welfare evaluation and family tracing.
During the raid, police also discovered two pregnant teenagers, Tanimola Martins and Favour Martins, both aged 18, who admitted they were recruited to carry pregnancies intended for sale to pre-arranged buyers after delivery.
Investigations revealed that babies were being sold for ₦1.5 million each through the syndicate.
The principal suspect, Joy Chiedozie, also known as Madam Joy, was arrested at the facility. She was found to have purchased the abducted child through financial transactions involving both cash and bank transfers before selling him to a buyer identified as Mr. Emmanuel, who is currently on the run.
Further findings showed that the orphanage driver, Yusuf Adebowale, 31, played a central role in coordinating illegal surrogacy arrangements, acting as a middleman between pregnant girls and prospective buyers.
Other suspects arrested in connection with the operation include Martins Favour (18), Tanimola Martins (18) and Rachael Chiedozie (16).
Police say efforts are ongoing to track down fleeing suspects, identify buyers, trace financial flows, rescue additional victims and dismantle the wider trafficking network linked to the operation.
The Ogun State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to combating child trafficking, illegal adoption and the exploitation of vulnerable persons, urging residents to report suspicious activities linked to orphanages and human trafficking to the nearest police station.
