The Ogun State Police Command has dismantled an organised child trafficking and illegal surrogacy syndicate operating under the cover of an orphanage, rescuing seven children and arresting five suspects in a major operation.
The Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists at the Command Headquarters, Eleweran, Abeokuta.
According to Ogunlowo, the syndicate was uncovered by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department following intelligence-driven investigations into the abduction of a six-year-old boy reported in November 2025.
“The operation led to the rescue of seven children and the arrest of five principal suspects, while investigations revealed that babies were being sold to pre-arranged buyers at the rate of ₦1.5 million per child,” the police commissioner said.
He explained that the case originated on November 28, 2025, when a woman, identified as Amara, reported the abduction of her son, Samuel Honesty, at the Idanyin Divisional Headquarters. Preliminary investigations led to the arrest and prosecution of two suspects, after which the matter was transferred to the SCID for deeper investigation.
Ogunlowo said the breakthrough came on January 21, 2026, when the missing child was dropped at Gowon Police Station in Lagos State and revealed that he had been taken to Joyful Kids Orphanage, Badagry, allegedly operated by a woman known as Madam Joy.
“Based on this information, operatives carried out a coordinated operation at the orphanage, where six additional children were rescued, bringing the total number of rescued minors to seven,” he said.
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). Ogunlowo confirmed that Samuel Honesty had since been reunited with his mother.
During the raid, police also discovered two pregnant teenagers, Tanimola Martins (18) and Favour Martins (18), who allegedly confessed that they were recruited to carry pregnancies for the purpose of selling their babies after delivery.
“The girls admitted they were to be paid through arrangements made by the orphanage operator, with babies sold for ₦1.5 million each,” Ogunlowo said.
The prime suspect, Joy Chiedozie (36), also known as Madam Joy, was arrested and allegedly confessed to purchasing the abducted child for ₦1.5 million, paying part in cash and part through bank transfer, before selling the child to a buyer identified as Mr. Emmanuel, who is currently at large.
Other suspects arrested include Yusuf Adebowale (31), the orphanage driver, who allegedly acted as an uncertified surrogate agent, as well as Martins Favour (18), Tanimola Martins (18) and Rachael Chiedozie (16).
Ogunlowo said the six other rescued children had been handed over to the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for care, welfare assessment and family tracing.
He added that investigations were ongoing to apprehend fleeing suspects, trace financial transactions, identify buyers and dismantle the wider trafficking network.
“The Ogun State Police Command maintains zero tolerance for child trafficking, illegal adoption and exploitation of vulnerable persons. We urge members of the public to report suspicious orphanages and trafficking activities promptly,” Ogunlowo said.
