The Ogun State Police Command has dismantled an organised child trafficking and illegal surrogacy syndicate operating under the guise of an orphanage.
The breakthrough was achieved by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department following the transfer of the case from Idanyin Divisional Headquarters, Agbara, to Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.
During the operation, seven children were rescued, and five principal suspects were arrested. Police also uncovered a planned sale of babies at ₦1.5 million per child.
The state police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi disclosed this on Thursday in a statement released to journalists.
Babaseyi 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.
“Preliminary investigations led to the arrest and prosecution of Chioma Honest and Praise Honesty for suspected foul play,” he said.
He added that the case was later transferred to SCID for further investigation. On January 21, 2026, the abducted child was dropped at Gowon Police Station in Lagos State, where he revealed he had been taken to Joyful Kids Orphanage, Badagry, and identified Madam Joy as the operator.
Babaseyi said, “Acting on this intelligence, operatives conducted a coordinated operation at the orphanage, rescuing six additional children, bringing the total number of rescued minors to seven.
“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).
“We wish to emphasise that Samuel Honesty has been safely and happily reunited with his mother, Amara, bringing closure to a traumatic experience and restoring the family unit.
“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.”
The police said the principal suspect, Joy Chiedozie (36 years), also known as Madam Joy, allegedly confessed to purchasing the abducted child for ₦1.5 million. She reportedly paid ₦900,000 in cash and ₦600,000 via bank transfer to a woman known as Kelly before selling the child to one Mr Emmanuel, who is currently at large.
Further investigations revealed that Yusuf Adebowale (31 years), the orphanage driver, acted as an uncertified surrogate agent, facilitating illegal surrogacy arrangements and connecting pregnant girls with prospective buyers.
Other suspects arrested include Martins Favour (18 years), Tanimola Martins (18 years), and Rachael Chiedozie (16 years).
The six other rescued children have been formally handed over to the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for protective custody, welfare assessment, and family tracing.
Babaseyi said investigations are ongoing to apprehend Mr Emmanuel and other buyers in the trafficking network, trace Kelly and the financial transactions, identify additional victims and accomplices, and dismantle the wider child trafficking syndicate.
The state police command reiterated its zero tolerance for child trafficking, illegal adoption, and exploitation of vulnerable children and young women. It urged members of the public to report suspicious orphanage operations, illegal adoption practices, and human trafficking activities to the nearest police station.
The command said it remains committed to safeguarding lives, protecting vulnerable citizens, and upholding the rule of law.
Read the full article here
