Adeola and Binta Adebayo, a couple, have been arrested for allegedly operating a baby factory at 1, Treasure Palace Close, off Hand of Fair Bus Stop, Ikotun-Igando Road, Alimosho local government Area, Lagos State.
Three heavily pregnant girls were also rescued on at the same location on Sunday, February 4, 2018. The girls were allegedly used for commercial reproduction purposes.
The sting operation was carried carried out by operatives of the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, FSARS, in Ikeja, following a tip off from a journalist
The three girls are Favour Osikwemeh, 19 years old and six months pregnant, Precious Emmanuel, 27 years old and seven months pregnant, and Onome Oputi, 25 years old and nine months pregnant.
Edgal Imohimi, the Lagos State commissioner of Police said the suspects usually harboured young pregnant women and sold the children after the young women had been delivered of the babies without the mothers’ consent.
“During the raid, three young women were rescued.
“The victims will be handed over to National Agency for the Prohibition in Persons, NAPTIP, for care while the couple will be handed over for possible prosecution
One of the rescued ladies, Osikweme, said a friend of hers, Lepa, introduced her to the place.
She said “I was not told it is a baby factory. I was staying with my friend called Lepa when she told me that her place is too small and offered to take me where I will be delivered of my child.
“I have been there since December last year. The woman told my mum that I am working with her but we didn’t negotiate about payment for my child.”
The arrested couple however denied any involvement in nurturing pregnant women and selling their babies.
According to Adebayo’s wife, “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 neighbors we have land dispute with are trying to frame us. We are innocent.”
