Police raid alleged baby factory in Lagos, arrest couple

Police raid alleged baby factory in Lagos, arrest couple

- Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) have uncovered an alleged baby factory in Lagos and arrested a couple

- The police acted on a tip-off by a journalist; and three pregnant women were rescued during the raid

- The couple, Adeola and Binta Adebayo, denied running a baby factory

Operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS) have arrested a couple, Adeola and Binta Adebayo, in Lagos for allegedly operating a baby factory.

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The operatives who also rescued three pregnant young girls arrested the couple on Sunday, January 4 at about 9pm in Ikeja, The Guardian reports.

Legit.ng gathered that the operatives got a tip-off from a journalist, after which they arrested the couple.

The commissioner of police, Edgal Imohimi, disclosed that the suspects usually harboured pregnant women at their residence located at 1, Treasure Palace Close, off Hand of Fair Bus Stop, Ikotun-Igando Road.

Imohimi said the suspects usually sell off the children after the young women had been delivered of the babies, without the mothers’ consent.

He said: “I got credible information from a journalist and I detailed the FSARS to swing into action immediately. During the raid, three young girls were rescued namely 19-year-old Favour Osikwemeh, 27-year-old Precious Emmanuel, both seven months pregnant, and 25-year-old Onome Oputi, who was nine months pregnant.

“The girls would be handed over to National Agency for the Prohibition in Persons (NAPTIP) for care, while the couple will be handed over for possible prosecution."

However, the couple denied any involvement in nurturing pregnant women and selling their babies.

Adebayo’s wife said: “One of the girls is my daughter-in-law and they have been living with us for over four years with my son.

“My daughter-in-law even has two children and I haven’t sold any of them to anybody. The other two ladies are people who come to help us sell things in my shop.

"I have a shop where we sell stuff. I don’t know why someone would accuse us of selling babies. I believe some neigbours we have land dispute with are trying to frame us. We are innocent.”

Police raid alleged baby factory in Lagos, arrest couple
The couple, Adeola and Binta Adebayo (Photo credit: The Guardian).

One of the victims, Osikweme, told newsmen that she was introduced to the baby factory by her friend called Lepa.

She said: “Although I was not told it is a baby factory; I was staying with my friend when she told me that her place is too small and will take me to where I will deliver my child.

"I have been there since December 2017. The woman told my mum that i am working with her; but we didn’t negotiate about payment for my child."

Another rescued victim, Emmanuel, said she was worried after getting pregnant for a foreigner and was introduced to the baby factory by her sister.

She said: “I was taken to the woman by my sister after getting pregnant for a foreigner. The woman then promised to settle me as soon as I deliver my baby."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Borno state government announced that it discovered a baby factory were babies were being sold in the state.

The state's commissioner for Justice, Kakashehu Lawal, disclosed this at a press conference in the state capital, Maiduguri.

Lawal said that four women alongside the principal suspect were arrested for taking part in the crime.

See the faces of newly arrested criminals in Lagos state - on Legit.ng TV

Source: Legit.ng

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