The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered and dismantled a child trafficking and illegal surrogacy syndicate operating under the cover of an orphanage in the state, rescuing seven children and arresting five key suspects.
The operation was carried out by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department after the case was transferred from the Idanyin Divisional Police Headquarters in Agbara to the SCID in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.
Confirming the development in a statement on Thursday, the state police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the syndicate specialised in child trafficking, illegal adoption, and planned sale of babies for as much as ₦1.5 million per child.
“The breakthrough followed a report made on November 28, 2025, by a woman identified as Amara, who alleged that her six-year-old son, Samuel Honesty, had been abducted,” Babaseyi said.
He explained that preliminary investigations led to the arrest and prosecution of two suspects for suspected foul play before the case was escalated to the SCID for deeper investigation.
According to the police, the abducted child later resurfaced on January 21, 2026, at the Gowon Police Station in Lagos State, where he disclosed that he had been taken to an orphanage in Badagry known as Joyful Kids Orphanage.
“The child identified the operator of the facility, popularly known as Madam Joy, which prompted a coordinated operation at the orphanage,” Babaseyi stated.
He added that during the raid, six additional children were rescued, bringing the total number of rescued minors to seven.
The children, aged between six and nine years, were identified as Ramsey Chiedozie, Rafael Rofiu, Kazeem Chiedozie, Segun Uthman, Ola Abdulhakeem Abdulrasheed, David Oyelese, and Samuel Honesty.
“We are pleased to inform the public that Samuel Honesty has been safely reunited with his mother, bringing closure to a traumatic experience for the family,” the police spokesperson said.
The police further disclosed that two pregnant 18-year-old women were found within the facility. The young women allegedly confessed that they were recruited to carry pregnancies for the purpose of selling their babies to pre-arranged buyers.
“They admitted that the babies were to be sold at ₦1.5 million per child, with the transactions facilitated by the orphanage operator,” Babaseyi revealed.
The principal suspect, Joy Chiedozie, aged 36, was alleged to have confessed to purchasing the abducted child through a middlewoman identified as Kelly, paying ₦900,000 in cash and ₦600,000 via bank transfer, before reselling the child to a buyer currently at large.
Investigations also revealed that the orphanage driver, Yusuf Adebowale, acted as an uncertified surrogate agent, linking pregnant young women to prospective buyers.
Other suspects arrested include Rachael Chiedozie, a 16-year-old, and the two pregnant teenagers discovered at the facility.
While Samuel Honesty has been reunited with his family, the remaining six rescued children have been handed over to the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for protective custody, welfare assessment, and family tracing.
“The investigation is ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects, trace financial transactions, identify other victims, and dismantle the wider trafficking network,” Babaseyi said.
The Ogun State Police Command reaffirmed its zero tolerance for child trafficking, illegal adoption, and exploitation of vulnerable persons, urging members of the public to report suspicious orphanage activities to law enforcement agencies.
