The Ondo State Police Command says it has uncovered a suspected baby factory and human trafficking ring in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area, rescuing five pregnant girls and a baby boy from the facility.
Police spokesperson, Ayanlade Olayinka, said the syndicate was allegedly involved in the buying and selling of newborns, with babies reportedly sold for between ₦400,000 and ₦600,000 depending on gender.
According to the police, the operation was exposed on October 21, 2025, after a 17-year-old girl, identified as Vivian Peter from Akwa Ibom State, managed to escape and report the case.
Vivian told investigators she had been lured to Ore under the promise of a job, only to be handed over to the ring and forced into what police described as a “baby factory” arrangement. She said young pregnant girls were kept in the house until they delivered, and their babies were then taken away and sold to interested buyers.
Following her report, operatives from the Ore Division, working with the Command’s Gender Unit, raided the building and rescued the victims. One of the girls had already given birth and is currently receiving post-natal care at the General Hospital, Ore. The remaining girls, all pregnant, are under police protection.
Police say the alleged operator of the facility, identified as Ada Clement, has been arrested alongside accomplices. Olayinka said the suspects confessed to running the operation as an illegal maternity-for-profit scheme.
“Young pregnant girls were kept in the house until they delivered, after which their babies were sold to individuals seeking children,” Olayinka said.
The Command noted that buyers allegedly paid different amounts depending on the sex of the child.
Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, has ordered a full investigation to track down every member of the network, including suspected buyers and external collaborators. He also directed that those already in custody face prosecution.
The Command described the case as part of a disturbing pattern of trafficking and exploitation of vulnerable teenage girls and vowed to intensify surveillance around Ore and other border communities.
“We remain committed to dismantling human trafficking networks, baby factories, and other crimes targeting vulnerable persons,” Olayinka said.
Separate Arrest: Suspected Highway Kidnapper in Custody
In a separate development, the Ondo State Police Command has arrested a 20-year-old suspect, Abdullahi Ibrahim, alleged to be a member of a kidnapping gang involved in highway abductions in the South-West.
Police say Ibrahim is believed to be linked to a group that targets motorists and commuters along major routes. He is currently in custody as investigations continue.
The Command urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements, insisting that recent arrests reflect an ongoing crackdown on organized criminal gangs in the state.
