AKURE: The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered an illegal baby factory in Ore, Odigbo Local Government Area of the state, arresting one Ada Clement for allegedly operating the facility where underage girls were kept and their babies sold for profit.
The command’s spokesperson, Mr. Olayinka Ayanlade, confirmed the arrest in a statement on Sunday, revealing that five pregnant teenagers were rescued during a raid on the premises. One of the victims had already delivered a baby boy, who was also recovered by the police.
According to Ayanlade, investigations showed that the suspect sold female babies for ₦400,000 and above, while male babies were sold for ₦600,000 and above to buyers seeking children.
The Ondo State Police Command has uncovered a suspected baby factory and human trafficking syndicate in Ore. The case, which was transferred to the Gender-Based Violence Unit, is under active investigation, Ayanlade said.
The incident came to light on October 21, 2025, when a 17-year-old girl identified as Vivian Peter from Akwa Ibom State reported to the police after escaping from the facility.
She told officers that she had been deceived with a fake job offer and taken to Ore, only to be confined in what turned out to be a baby factory.
She disclosed that several other pregnant girls were being held at the location until delivery, after which their babies were allegedly sold to buyers. Her escape and report to the Ore Division led to a swift police operation that rescued the victims and arrested the main suspect.
One of the victims has already given birth and is receiving post-natal care at the General Hospital, Ore, while others are in the safe custody of the police,” the statement added.
Preliminary investigations confirmed that Ada Clement and her accomplices had confessed to running the baby-selling syndicate, where victims were kept until childbirth and their infants traded for cash.
The Ondo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adebowale Lawal, has ordered a comprehensive investigation to apprehend other fleeing members of the trafficking network. Detectives from the command’s Gender-Based Violence Unit are said to be tracking additional suspects linked to the crime.
The police urged residents to report suspicious activities that may indicate human trafficking or exploitation, emphasizing that such operations pose a grave threat to society’s moral and social fabric.
