The Ogun State Police Command has uncovered and shut down a criminal network involved in child trafficking and illegal surrogacy, which was operating under the cover of a so-called orphanage in the state.
The operation was carried out by the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) after the case was transferred from the Idanyin Divisional Police Headquarters to the SCID in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area for in-depth investigation.
Police confirmed that seven children were rescued during the raid, while five key suspects were taken into custody. Investigators also uncovered evidence of an organised plan to sell babies for as much as ₦1.5 million each.
According to the police spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the case originated on November 28, 2025, when a woman identified as Amara reported the disappearance of her six-year-old son, Samuel Honesty, at the Idanyin Police Station. Early investigations led to the arrest and prosecution of two individuals, Chioma Honest and Praise Honesty, over suspected involvement in the child’s disappearance.
As inquiries deepened, the matter was escalated to the SCID. On January 21, 2026, the missing child resurfaced at Gowon Police Station in Lagos State. He reportedly told officers that he had been taken to an orphanage in Badagry known as Joyful Kids Orphanage and identified its operator as a woman popularly called Madam Joy.
Acting on this information, police operatives stormed the facility and rescued six additional children, bringing the total number of recovered minors to seven. The rescued children, aged between six and nine years, were found living within the premises under suspicious conditions.
Police confirmed that Samuel Honesty has since been safely reunited with his mother, bringing relief to the family after weeks of distress. The remaining six children were transferred to the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for care, evaluation, and efforts to trace their families.
During the raid, officers also discovered two pregnant teenagers, both aged 18, who admitted they had been recruited to carry pregnancies with the understanding that their babies would be sold to pre-arranged buyers after birth. Each child was reportedly valued at ₦1.5 million, with the transactions allegedly coordinated by the orphanage operator.
The main suspect, Joy Chiedozie, aged 36, was accused of buying the abducted child for ₦1.5 million, paying part in cash and the remainder through a bank transfer to an accomplice known as Kelly. Investigators said the child was later sold to a man identified as Mr Emmanuel, who is currently on the run.
Further findings revealed that the orphanage driver, Yusuf Adebowale, allegedly played a central role in linking pregnant young women to buyers, acting as an unlicensed surrogate agent. Other suspects arrested include two of the pregnant girls and a 16-year-old female believed to be connected to the operation.
The police stated that investigations are ongoing to locate the fleeing suspects, track financial transactions, identify other victims, and dismantle the broader trafficking network. The Ogun State Police Command reaffirmed its commitment to combating child trafficking, illegal adoption, and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
Members of the public were encouraged to report suspicious orphanage activities, unlawful adoption practices, or any form of human trafficking to law enforcement authorities, as the command continues efforts to protect lives and uphold the rule of law.
