The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 11 victims and the arrest of three individuals involved in operating a baby factory in the Ijegun area of the state.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday at the state police command, the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the illegal operation was uncovered on April 5, 2025, following a tip-off. Police operatives swiftly mobilized detectives to the scene, where they arrested the facility operator, Mariam Vincent, 35, along with two accomplices, Orie Ruth, 23, and Ujunwa Ifeanyi, 18.
Explaining further, he said that during the raid, officers were able to rescue several victims, including three children aged seven, five, and two.
Seven women and three children, all held against their will, were rescued during the operation. The adult victims have been identified as Precious (24), Magdalene (25), Adaobi (23), Princess (22), Ifeanyi (25), and Amaka (26). The children rescued were Destiny, a 7-year-old boy; Miracle, a 5-year-old girl; and Success, a 2-year-old girl.
The rescued individuals are currently receiving appropriate care and support.
During interrogation, the suspects reportedly confessed to abducting their victims from different parts of the state for the purpose of running a baby factory.
Police say the investigation is ongoing, and the suspects will be charged accordingly.
Highlighting the activities of the command in the last two weeks during the briefing, CSP Hundeyin said: “A total of thirty-nine (39) suspects who engaged in various crimes including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, child stealing, vandalism, illegal operation of a baby factory, illegal possession of firearms, and illicit drugs were arrested.
“From all these cases which we successfully cracked, we recovered a total of ten (10) firearms, forty-nine (49) live ammunition, two (2) motorcycles, one (1) vehicle, five (5) vandalized street light poles, telecommunication cables, two (2) phones, and illicit drugs. A total of eleven (11) abducted victims were also rescued.”
In a related development, operatives attached to the Lagos State Police Command successfully rescued two victims abducted by kidnappers who stormed the Igbe Alagemo community in Ijede, Ikorodu, on the night of March 26, 2025.
The rescue operation, which culminated in the safe return of the victims on March 29, followed a distress call received by the police at approximately 9:00 p.m. on the night of the incident.
Addressing pressmen, CSP Hundeyin said: “Armed kidnappers invaded the quiet community, forcefully entering the residence of a 40-year-old man identified as Dare. The attackers shot and killed his security dog before abducting him.
“Not stopping there, the kidnappers proceeded to a neighboring house, where they seized a second victim, 25-year-old Rodiat, under similarly violent circumstances.
“Responding to the emergency call, operatives of the Lagos State Police Command, in collaboration with the joint task force and local stakeholders, launched an intensive manhunt. After three days of coordinated efforts, the victims were rescued unhurt at approximately 11:56 p.m. on March 29.
“The victims were immediately reunited with their families, and the area is now relatively calm,” the police confirmed in a statement. “Surveillance continues, and an investigation is underway to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the crime.”
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