Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested five suspects and dismantled a child trafficking and illegal surrogacy syndicate operating under the guise of an orphanage home in the Badagry area of Lagos State.
The command’s spokesperson, Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement signed and made available to DAILY POST on Thursday.
According to him, the feat was achieved by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), following the transfer of a missing child case from Idanyin Divisional Headquarters.
Babaseyi explained that the abducted child was dropped at Gowon Police Station, Lagos State, and upon questioning, he revealed that he was taken to Joyful Kids Orphanage, located in Badagry.
He said, “The case began on November 28, 2025, when one Amara reported the abduction of her six-year-old son, Samuel Honesty, at Idanyin Divisional Headquarters.
“Following the report, the case was transferred to the SCID for in-depth investigation. On January 21, 2026, the abducted child was dropped at Gowon Police Station, Lagos State, where he stated that he had been taken to Joyful Kids Orphanage, Badagry, and identified Madam Joy as the operator of the facility.”
Babaseyi stated that operatives, acting on the intelligence received, conducted a coordinated operation at the orphanage, rescuing six additional children and arresting a principal suspect, a 36-year-old Joy Chiedozie, and four others.
“The principal suspect, Joy Chiedozie (36 years), also known as Madam Joy, was arrested at the orphanage. She confessed to purchasing the abducted child for ₦1.5 million, paying ₦900,000 in cash and N600,000 via bank transfer to a woman known as Kelly, and subsequently selling the child to one Mr. Emmanuel, who is currently at large.
“He added that the orphanage’s driver, 31-year-old Yusuf Adebowale, was also arrested for playing the role of an uncertified surrogate agent, facilitating illegal surrogacy arrangements and connecting pregnant girls with prospective buyers.
“The rescued children include Ramsey Chiedozie (8 years), Rafael Rofiu (6 years), Kazeem Chiedozie (6 years), Segun Uthman (9 years), Ola Abdulhakeem Abdulrasheed (9 years), David Oyelese (9 years), and Samuel Honesty (6 years).
“During the operation, two pregnant young women, Tanimola Martins (18 years) and Favour Martins (18 years), were discovered within the facility. They confessed that they were recruited to carry pregnancies with the intention of selling their babies to pre-arranged buyers upon delivery, at a fee of ₦1.5 million per child, facilitated by the orphanage operator.
“Other suspects arrested include Martins Favour (18 years), Tanimola Martins (18 years), and Rachael Chiedozie (16 years),” he added.
The spokesperson revealed that the six other 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, adding that investigations are ongoing to apprehend Mr. Emmanuel and other buyers in the trafficking network.
