The Ogun State Police Command said it has dismantled a child trafficking syndicate operating under the guise of an orphanage, rescuing seven children and arresting five suspects in a coordinated operation that exposed an alleged ₦1.5 million-per-baby sales racket.
This was disclosed during a press briefing on Thursday in Eleweran, Abeokuta, by the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Police Command, Lanre Ogunlowo.
According to the Police boss, the child trafficking syndicate was uncovered by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, after the case was transferred from Idanyin Divisional Headquarters for in-depth investigation.
The Police further said the operation led to the rescue of seven minors and the arrest of the principal actors behind the illegal adoption and surrogacy scheme.
The Police got wind of the case on November 28, 2025, when one Amara reported the abduction of her six-year-old son, Samuel Honesty, at Idanyin Divisional Headquarters.
Preliminary investigations resulted in the arrest and prosecution of Chioma Honest and Praise Honesty over suspected foul play, before the matter was escalated to the SCID.
On January 21, 2026, the abducted child was dropped at Gowon Police Station, Lagos State, where he disclosed that he had been taken to Joyful Kids Orphanage in Badagry and identified the operator as Madam Joy.
7 children rescued, 5 suspects linked to child trafficking syndicate
Acting on intelligence, detectives stormed the facility and uncovered the child trafficking syndicate, 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), David Oyelese (9), and Samuel Honesty (6).
Police confirmed that Samuel Honesty has been safely reunited with his mother.
During the operation, two pregnant teenagers, Tanimola Martins (18) and Favour Martins (18), were found within the facility.
They reportedly confessed that they were recruited to carry pregnancies for the purpose of selling their babies to pre-arranged buyers at ₦1.5 million per child.
The principal suspect, Joy Chiedozie (36), also known as Madam Joy, was arrested at the orphanage.
Police said she 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 selling the child to one Mr. Emmanuel, who is currently at large.
Further investigation revealed that Yusuf Adebowale (31), the orphanage driver, allegedly acted as an uncertified surrogate agent, linking pregnant girls with prospective buyers.
Other suspects arrested in connection with the child trafficking syndicate include Martins Favour (18), Tanimola Martins (18), and Rachael Chiedozie (16).
The remaining six 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.
Police said efforts are ongoing to arrest fleeing suspects, trace financial transactions, identify additional victims, and dismantle the wider child trafficking syndicate.
CP Ogunlowo reiterated the Commands’s zero tolerance for child trafficking, illegal adoption, and the exploitation of vulnerable children and young women, urging members of the public to report suspicious orphanage and adoption practices.
