Ogun State Police Command on Monday, August 24, 2026, uncovered an alleged baby trafficking ring in Abaren Village, Mowe, Ogun State, rescuing two pregnant women and four children and arresting six suspects during an intelligence-led operation.
The operation was carried out at about 8am at a premises on Toluwalase Street, Abaren Village, via Gbarinmole, Mowe, following information gathered by police about suspected human trafficking and illegal adoption activities.
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According to the command, the operation was conducted by officers attached to the Mowe Division after sustained intelligence indicated that the premises was allegedly being used for activities connected with trafficking and the unlawful placement of children for adoption.
The two pregnant women rescued from the premises were identified as 23-year-old Ilesanmi Foluke, who was seven months pregnant, and 20-year-old Ejekwa Melody, who was eight months pregnant.
Four children, comprising two boys and two girls, were also found at the location and taken into police protection.
Six suspects were arrested during the operation. They were identified by the police as Florence Glory Ogbona, 58; Magdalene Julius, 63; Chidike Egwuonwu, 40; Onyechu Chidike, 35; Stephen Ogbona, 39; and Oseni Kusamotu Idaya, an attending nurse.
The arrests have opened a wider investigation into the suspected operation, with detectives now working to establish how long the facility had been active and whether other people may have been involved.
The case took a more troubling turn when investigators traced a related lead to a hospital in the Mowe area.
Police said 26-year-old Blessing Bright Effiong was receiving treatment at the hospital after giving birth to a baby boy on August 20. When officers arrived, however, the whereabouts of the newborn could not be established.
The attending nurse was subsequently arrested as investigators sought information that could help locate the child.
The police said the missing newborn remains a priority in the investigation, alongside efforts to determine the full extent of the alleged trafficking network.
The command said the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Investigators are expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the presence of the pregnant women and children at the facility, the relationship between the suspects and the hospital, and the circumstances surrounding the missing newborn.
Police have not said whether the rescued children were related to any of the suspects or disclosed how the women came to be at the premises.
The allegations against the arrested suspects have also not been tested in court. They remain suspects unless and until a court determines otherwise.
Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling human trafficking, child trading and other serious crimes.
The police also appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information about suspicious activities in their communities.
“The Command will sustain intelligence-led policing to ensure the safety and protection of all citizens,” police spokesperson Oluseyi Babaseyi said, conveying the commissioner’s message.
The operation comes against the backdrop of continuing concerns over alleged baby factories and child trafficking in parts of southern Nigeria.
Such facilities have previously been linked by law enforcement authorities to the exploitation of vulnerable pregnant women and the illegal transfer or sale of newborn children.
In another recent operation in Lagos State, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps reportedly raided an alleged baby factory in Okuju, Ilado, Badagry, where 18 pregnant women and 10 children were rescued and two suspected operators were arrested. The victims were reportedly attracted to the facility through an advertisement on Facebook.
The latest Ogun operation therefore adds to a troubling pattern that has continued to draw attention from law enforcement and child-protection authorities.
For now, the immediate focus in Mowe is the welfare of the rescued women and children, the location of the missing baby and the investigation of the six people arrested.
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The Ogun police said further findings would determine the extent of the alleged syndicate and guide any prosecution that follows.
Mariam Balogun is a contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
