The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled a child trafficking and illegal surrogacy ring operating under the disguise of an orphanage in the Ado-Odo/Ota axis of the state.
The discovery followed a detailed investigation by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department after a case was transferred from the Idanyin Divisional Headquarters, Agbara.
During the coordinated operation, officers rescued seven children and arrested five key suspects believed to be part of the trafficking network. Authorities also uncovered a planned sale of infants for ₦1.5 million each.
Police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed the development in a statement released on Thursday.
According to him, the case originated on 28 November 2025, when a woman identified as Amara reported that her six-year-old son, Samuel Honesty, had been abducted. Initial arrests soon followed, leading to the prosecution of two individuals—Chioma Honest and Praise Honest—over suspected involvement.
The matter was later escalated to the SCID for deeper investigation. On 21 January 2026, the missing child was found at the Gowon Police Station in Lagos, where he disclosed that he had been taken to Joyful Kids Orphanage in Badagry. He identified the operator, known as Madam Joy.
Acting on this intelligence, detectives raided the facility, rescuing six additional minors. The children recovered were:
Ramsey Chiedozie (8)
Rafael Rofiu (6)
Kazeem Chiedozie (6)
Segun Uthman (9)
Ola Abdulhakeem Abdulrasheed (9)
David Oyelese (9)
Samuel Honesty (6)
Samuel has since been reunited with his mother.
Two pregnant teenagers were also found at the orphanage. They confessed that they were recruited to carry pregnancies and sell their newborns to pre-arranged buyers for ₦1.5 million, facilitated by the orphanage operator.
The principal suspect, Joy Chiedozie (36), reportedly confessed to purchasing Samuel for ₦1.5 million—paying ₦900,000 in cash and ₦600,000 via bank transfer to an accomplice identified as Kelly. She later resold the child to a man known as Emmanuel, who is currently on the run.
Further investigations revealed that the orphanage’s driver, Yusuf Adebowale (31), acted as an uncertified surrogate agent, connecting pregnant girls to buyers.
Other suspects in custody include Martins Favour (18), Tanimola Martins (18), and Rachael Chiedozie (16).
The remaining rescued children have been handed over to the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for protection, welfare evaluation, and tracing of their families.
Police say efforts are ongoing to arrest Emmanuel, track down Kelly, identify additional victims, review financial trails, and uncover the full extent of the trafficking network.
The command reaffirmed its zero tolerance for child trafficking, illegal adoption, and exploitation of vulnerable groups, urging residents to report suspicious activities involving orphanages or child welfare centres.
It assured the public of its continued commitment to protecting children, ensuring justice, and sustaining the fight against human trafficking in Ogun State.
No comments:
Post a Comment