Operatives of the Mowe Division of the Ogun State Police Command on Monday dismantled an illegal baby factory syndicate and arrested six suspects at Toluwalase Street, Abaren Village, in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.
The operation also led to the rescue of two heavily pregnant women, Ilesanmi Foluke, 23, who was seven months pregnant, and Ejekwa Melody, 20, as well as four children.
DAILY POST reports that the operation is part of the command’s ongoing fight against human trafficking and child exploitation in the state.
The suspects arrested, three females and three males, are Florence Glory Ogbona, 58; Magdalene Julius, 63, an attending nurse; Oseni Kusamotu Idaya; Chidike Egwuonwu, 40; Onyechu Chidike, 35; and Stephen Ogbona, 39.
The Deputy Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, ASP Oluborode Opeyemi, told DAILY POST that the operation followed intelligence and was carried out at about 8 a.m.
He said: “The operation was carried out on 24th August 2026, at about 8:00 a.m., when operatives, acting on sustained intelligence, stormed the syndicate’s hideout located at Toluwalase Street, Abaren Village, via Gbarinmole, a suburb of Mowe.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that human trafficking and illegal adoption activities had been systematically occurring at the facility over time.
“The operation resulted in the safe rescue of two heavily pregnant women and four children, as well as the arrest of six suspects: Florence Glory Ogbona ‘f’ (58), Magdalene Julius ‘f’ (63), Chidike Egwuonwu ‘m’ (40), Onyechu Chidike ‘m’ (35), Stephen Ogbona ‘m’ (39), and an attending nurse, Oseni Kusamotu Idaya ‘f’.
“During the raid, operatives safely rescued two pregnant victims: Ilesanmi Foluke ‘f’ (23), who was seven months pregnant, and Ejekwa Melody ‘f’ (20), who was eight months pregnant. Four young children, comprising two males and two females, were also recovered from the scene.”
Opeyemi stated that intelligence-led follow-up operations led operatives to a hospital within the Mowe axis, where another victim, Blessing Bright Effiong, 26, had given birth to a baby boy on 20th August 2026. While the mother was receiving medical treatment, the whereabouts of the newborn child could not be accounted for.
He added that this prompted the arrest of the attending nurse to facilitate efforts to locate the infant.
He noted that the case is currently being transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further diligent investigation to establish the full extent of the syndicate’s activities, locate the missing newborn and ensure the prosecution of every culpable suspect.
The Deputy PPRO also quoted the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, as commending the operation and reiterating the command’s commitment to stamping out human trafficking, child trading and all forms of violent crime across Ogun State.
The CP further urged residents to remain vigilant and continue to support the police by providing timely and credible information, assuring them that the command would sustain intelligence-led policing to ensure the safety and protection of all citizens.
