The Ogun State Police Command has dismantled an organised child trafficking and illegal surrogacy syndicate operating under the cover of an orphanage in Badagry, Lagos State, rescuing seven children and arresting five principal suspects.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, Ph.D, disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing in Abeokuta, describing the operation as a major breakthrough in the Command’s fight against child trafficking and allied crimes.
According to the police, the operation was carried out by operatives of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) following the transfer of a case from Idanyin Divisional Headquarters.
Investigations uncovered a well-coordinated syndicate involved in child abduction, illegal adoption and surrogacy, with babies allegedly sold for as much as ₦1.5 million each.
The case began on November 28, 2025, when a woman, identified as Amara, reported the abduction of her six-year-old son, Samuel Honesty, at the Idanyin Police Division. Preliminary investigations led to the arrest and prosecution of two suspects, Chioma Honest and Praise Honesty, prompting the transfer of the case to the SCID for further investigation.
On January 21, 2026, the missing child was dropped at Gowon Police Station in Lagos State. During interrogation, the child revealed that he had been taken to Joyful Kids Orphanage in Badagry and identified one Joy Chiedozie, popularly known as Madam Joy, as the operator of the facility.
Acting on the intelligence, police operatives stormed the orphanage, where six additional children were rescued, bringing the total number of recovered 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).
The police confirmed that Samuel Honesty has since been reunited with his mother, while the remaining six children have been handed over to the Ogun State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for protective custody, welfare assessment and family tracing.
During the raid, two pregnant 18-year-old girls, Tanimola Martins and Favour Martins, were also discovered at the facility. They reportedly confessed to being recruited to carry pregnancies for the purpose of selling their babies to pre-arranged buyers at the sum of ₦1.5 million per child.
Further investigation revealed that the principal suspect, Joy Chiedozie (36), confessed to purchasing the abducted child for ₦1.5 million, paying ₦900,000 in cash and ₦600,000 through a bank transfer to a woman identified as Kelly. She allegedly resold the child to a man known as Mr. Emmanuel, who is currently at large.
The police also arrested Yusuf Adebowale (31), the orphanage driver, who was alleged to have acted as an uncertified surrogate agent, linking pregnant girls with prospective buyers. Other suspects arrested include Martins Favour (18), Tanimola Martins (18), and Rachael Chiedozie (16).
CP Ogunlowo stated that investigations are ongoing to apprehend Mr. Emmanuel and other buyers, trace Kelly and related financial transactions, identify additional victims, and dismantle the wider trafficking network.
He reiterated the Command’s zero-tolerance stance on child trafficking, illegal adoption and exploitation of vulnerable children and young women, urging members of the public to report suspicious orphanage activities and trafficking-related offences to the nearest police station.
The Commissioner assured residents that the Ogun State Police Command remains committed to safeguarding lives, protecting vulnerable citizens and upholding the rule of law.
