The Ogun State Police Command has dismantled a child trafficking and illegal surrogacy syndicate operating under the cover of an orphanage, rescuing seven children and arresting five key suspects in a sting that exposed a baby sales racket allegedly valued at ₦1.5 million per child.
Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, PhD, disclosed the breakthrough during a press briefing in Abeokuta, stating that the operation was executed by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) following intelligence-led investigations.
According to the police, the case originated on November 28, 2025, when a woman identified as Amara reported the disappearance of her six-year-old son, Samuel Honesty, at the Idanyin Divisional Headquarters. Initial inquiries led to the arrest and prosecution of two suspects, after which the matter was transferred to the SCID for further investigation.
A major lead emerged on January 21, 2026, when the missing child was brought to Gowon Police Station in Lagos State. The boy reportedly told officers that he had been taken to Joyful Kids Orphanage in Badagry and identified the operator of the facility, popularly known as Madam Joy.
Acting on the information, detectives stormed the orphanage, where they rescued six additional children, bringing the total number of recovered minors 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).
The police confirmed that Samuel Honesty has since been reunited with his mother, while the remaining six children have been placed in the care of the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for welfare assessment, protection and family tracing.
Further investigation at the facility revealed the presence of two pregnant teenagers, Tanimola Martins and Favour Martins, both aged 18, who allegedly confessed to being recruited to carry pregnancies for the purpose of selling their babies to pre-arranged buyers through the syndicate.
The prime suspect, Joy Chiedozie (36), also known as Madam Joy, was arrested at the orphanage. Police said she allegedly admitted to purchasing the abducted child for ₦1.5 million and subsequently reselling him to a buyer identified as Emmanuel, who is currently on the run. Investigators also uncovered the alleged involvement of Yusuf Adebowale (31), the orphanage driver, who reportedly acted as an unlicensed surrogate agent linking pregnant girls with prospective buyers.
Other suspects in custody include Rachael Chiedozie (16), alongside the two teenagers found at the facility.
The police said investigations were ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects, trace financial transactions linked to the syndicate, identify additional victims and collaborators, and dismantle the wider trafficking network.
Reaffirming the command’s zero tolerance for child trafficking, illegal adoption and exploitation, Ogunlowo urged members of the public to report suspicious orphanage operations and trafficking-related activities to the nearest police station, assuring that the command would continue to safeguard vulnerable persons and uphold the rule of law.