The Ogun State Police Command has launched a full-scale investigation to uncover all members and beneficiaries of a child-trafficking and illegal surrogacy syndicate recently uncovered in the state, following the rescue of seven children and the arrest of five suspects.
The syndicate, which allegedly operated under the guise of an orphanage, was exposed by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) after the case was transferred from the Idanyin Divisional Police Headquarters to the state headquarters at Eleweran.
Police investigations revealed that the group was involved in the sale of babies for as much as ₦1.5 million per child, while also running an illegal surrogacy operation that recruited young women to carry pregnancies for pre-arranged buyers.
According to the police, the case began on November 28, 2025, when a woman identified as Amara reported the abduction of her six-year-old son, Samuel Honesty, at the Idanyin Divisional Headquarters.
Preliminary investigations led to the arrest and prosecution of Chioma Honest and Praise Honesty for suspected foul play, after which the case was transferred to the SCID for further investigation.
On January 21, 2026, the abducted child was dropped at Gowon Police Station in Lagos State, where he disclosed that he had been taken to Joyful Kids Orphanage in Badagry.
He also identified the operator of the facility as one Joy Chiedozie, popularly known as Madam Joy.
Acting on this information, police operatives carried out a coordinated operation at the orphanage, rescuing six additional children and bringing the total number of rescued 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), and David Oyelese (9).
During the raid, two pregnant teenagers, Tanimola Martins (18) and Favour Martins (18), were also discovered at the facility.
They reportedly confessed that they were recruited to carry pregnancies with the intention of selling their babies to waiting buyers at a negotiated fee of ₦1.5 million per child.
The principal suspect, Joy Chiedozie (36), was arrested at the orphanage. She allegedly confessed to purchasing the abducted child for ₦1.5 million, paying ₦900,000 in cash and ₦600,000 via bank transfer to a woman identified as Kelly, before reselling the child to one Mr. Emmanuel, who is currently at large.
Further investigations revealed that the orphanage driver, Yusuf Adebowale (31), also acted as an uncertified surrogate agent, linking pregnant girls with prospective buyers.
Other suspects arrested include Martins Favour (18), Tanimola Martins (18), and Rachael Chiedozie (16).
The six other rescued children have since been handed over to the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for protective custody, welfare assessment, and family tracing.
In a press release e-signed by the Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, the command said investigations were ongoing to apprehend Mr. Emmanuel and other buyers mentioned by the suspects, trace Kelly and related financial transactions, identify additional victims and accomplices, and dismantle the wider trafficking network.
The police reiterated their zero tolerance for child trafficking, illegal adoption, and the exploitation of vulnerable children and young women, while urging members of the public to report suspicious orphanage operations, illegal adoption practices, and human-trafficking activities to the nearest police station.
The command assured residents of its commitment to safeguarding lives, protecting vulnerable citizens, and upholding the rule of law across the state.
