An alleged Ogun baby factory has been uncovered in Mowe, where police rescued two pregnant women and four children on August 24. Six suspects were arrested, while officers are searching for a missing newborn.
ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE — Police operatives in Ogun State have uncovered an alleged Ogun baby factory in Abaren Village, Mowe, rescuing two pregnant women and four children while arresting six suspects linked to suspected human trafficking and illegal adoption activities. The operation took place around 8am on Monday, August 24, 2026, following sustained intelligence gathering by the Mowe Police Division.
The operation targeted a suspected trafficking syndicate operating from Toluwalase Street in Abaren Village, via Gbarinmole, a suburb of Mowe in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area. According to the Ogun State Police Command, preliminary investigations indicated that human trafficking and illegal adoption activities had allegedly been taking place at the facility over time.
Police identified the two rescued pregnant women as 23-year-old Ilesanmi Foluke, who was seven months pregnant, and 20-year-old Ejekwa Melody, who was eight months pregnant. Four children were also recovered from the premises. The children comprised two boys and two girls, according to the police statement released after the operation.
The six suspects arrested during the operation were identified as Florence Glory Ogbona, 58; Magdalene Julius, 63; Chidike Egwuonwu, 40; Onyechu Chidike, 35; Stephen Ogbona, 39; and Oseni Kusamotu Idaya, an attending nurse. The police have not established the individual roles allegedly played by each suspect as investigations continue.
The investigation took another serious turn when police traced information to a hospital within the Mowe axis. Officers found 26-year-old Blessing Bright Effiong receiving medical treatment after she reportedly gave birth to a baby boy on August 20. Police said they could not establish the whereabouts of her newborn at the time of their inquiry.
The missing newborn prompted investigators to arrest the attending nurse. Police said the arrest would assist efforts to locate the baby and establish what happened after the birth. The command has not said that the nurse caused the disappearance, and investigators have yet to establish the circumstances surrounding the infant’s whereabouts.
Newstridez‘s review of the police account shows that the case involves more than the rescue operation at the suspected facility. Investigators now face three immediate tasks: determining the full scale of the alleged trafficking operation, establishing how the women and children came to the facility, and locating the newborn whose whereabouts remain unknown. The police have not disclosed whether more victims or suspects could emerge.
The police operation followed what authorities described as sustained intelligence on activities at the location. Such intelligence-led operations have become a key part of efforts to disrupt trafficking networks, particularly where vulnerable women and children may face exploitation. In this case, the police said preliminary findings pointed to suspected human trafficking and illegal adoption, but the allegations still require investigation and, where necessary, proof in court.
The development has raised fresh concern about child trafficking in the Ogun corridor, particularly around Mowe and other rapidly growing communities linking Lagos and Ogun. The area has experienced significant residential growth and heavy movement of people, making community vigilance and timely reporting important in detecting suspicious activities. Residents who notice unusual movements involving pregnant women, children or suspected trafficking operations are encouraged to alert law-enforcement authorities.
The four children rescued during the raid have not been publicly identified, and police have not released details about their ages or relationship to the suspects. Protecting the identities of children involved in alleged trafficking cases remains important while authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding their presence at the facility.
The Ogun State Police Command said the case would move to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation. Detectives are expected to establish the full extent of the alleged syndicate’s activities, locate the missing newborn and determine which suspects may face prosecution.
Ogun State Commissioner of Police Bode Ojajuni commended officers from the Mowe Division for what he described as their prompt response and operational efficiency. He also reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling human trafficking, child trading and other violent crimes across the state.
Ojajuni urged residents to remain vigilant and provide credible information about suspicious activities. The police said public cooperation remains important as investigators work to identify other people who may have links to the suspected operation and determine whether the facility formed part of a wider trafficking network.
The Ogun baby factory investigation now moves to the SCID in Abeokuta, with the missing newborn remaining a key concern for investigators. Police are expected to provide further updates as detectives establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged trafficking operation, the rescued victims and the infant whose whereabouts remain unknown.
