NSCDC BUSTS BABY FACTORY IN LAGOS, RESCUES 18 PREGNANT WOMEN, 10 CHILDREN, ARRESTS TWO SUSPECTS (PHOTOS)

Items recovered from the facility included a pumping machine, generator set, standing fans, gas cylinders, burners, cooking pots, phones, mats, toiletries, baby skincare products, tableware, and assorted food items.

On the future of the facility, Keshinro said, “We will hand over the place to the state government. The state government may decide to demolish the place so that they will not be able to continue to use it for that activity.”

Responding to questions from journalists, Okeke, the alleged chief operator of the facility, said she arrived in Badagry in January from Ikorodu in search of a bigger apartment.

Okeke said she “adopted” children for those who do not have children.

She said, “We are adopting children to give to those who don’t have children. I have been doing this for some months. I moved here from Ikorodu in search of a bigger apartment. We were in Ikorodu before. We are two operating this place.”

She declined to state how much a child is sold for or how clients access the facility, saying, “I can talk further when my lawyer is here. I don’t want to talk anymore.

“If you are interrogating me, my lawyer should be present.”

Speaking with journalists, some of the victims said they subscribed to the centre after negotiating online with the operator that they would surrender their babies upon delivery and be paid.

One of the women said she was promised N1 million, while another said she was promised N1.8 million.

One of the victims, identified as Joy, said she opted for the arrangement after becoming pregnant for an “irresponsible man.”

She said she already had two children who are being cared for by her mother in the village.

The women claimed they were well fed daily, allowed to use their phones, and could request medical attention when unwell, but were not allowed to leave the facility freely.

One of them also said the agreement allowed them to leave before delivery, but without payment.

According to Raphael Agwu, who was arrested alongside the operator, the women arrive pregnant and sign agreements to deliver their babies for sale before being paid.

Agwu said he believed the centre offered an alternative to abortion and helped childless couples.

He said, “There are agents on online groups who propose that instead of aborting it, you can come to us, and we will take care of you. And when you deliver the child, we’ll take the baby for ourselves.

“There are groups for adoption, abortion and unwanted pregnancies on Facebook. These are open groups. These people post that they want to give up their child for adoption, and negotiation begins.

“They were already pregnant on their own and decided to give birth for adoption. So, in order for us to be safe, because of that agreement, they gave their consent and everything.”

Agwu, who claimed he works as a housekeeper, said the women were attracted by promises of at least N1 million per child.

“They came on their own. Some of them were referred to us by agents. Most of them came with their children. All those children you saw are people who came with their kids.

“Some childless couples come to us seeking to adopt children. I didn’t see it as a big crime because my thinking is they are helping some childless couples,” he said.

Asked about the daily routine at the facility, Agwu said, “They just eat, rest and take their routine medicine.

“Actually, most of them say they don’t want some of their boyfriends to know they are here, while some say they want their family members to know.

“But any of them who want their family members to come and see them, as long as there is nothing fishy, they are always allowed.

“They are coming because the money is good for them. They sometimes request N1 million per child.”

On his relationship with the operator, Agwu said, “I am the one who donates blood to her. If I were to go to jail now, I don’t think she would survive.

“I am just like a housekeeper. She is like family to me. She brought me to the house for us to live together. She accepted my child and me into her home. So, I help her with housework and stuff like that.”