Lagos Uncovers Baby Factory, Rescues Three Children.

The Lagos State Government has uncovered an alleged illegal baby factory in the Lekki area of the state. During the operation, officials rescued three children and arrested a Togolese woman identified as the suspected operator of the facility.

In addition to the prime suspect, a pregnant woman and seven others were also apprehended. The suspects were taken into custody by officials of the Ministry of Youth and Social Development on Friday evening.

The raid was carried out at Baboon Village, located in the Ajele area of Ajah, by ministry officials accompanied by 20 police officers from the Ajah Police Station and the Area 'J' Police Command.

Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Agboola Dabiri, said the ministry acted on a tip-off regarding a woman who allegedly harbored pregnant women, housed them until delivery, and then sold the newborns under the guise of being a traditional birth attendant.

"Surveillance was conducted at the location, a shanty area off Mobil Road in the Ajah area of Lekki. With support from the Area 'J' Police Command and Ajah Police Station, 20 officers were deployed to assist with the operation," Dabiri said.

He added that adults, including the suspected operator, were arrested along with three babies — two of whom were found to be in extremely poor health.

The commissioner also noted that the state government had recently issued a two-week ultimatum to operators of unregistered homes to either shut down or legalize their operations. The raid followed the expiration of that ultimatum.

Suspect Denies Allegation : The prime suspect, Mrs. Regina Bankole, who claimed to be from Togo but married to a Nigerian, denied operating a baby factory. She admitted to working as a traditional birth attendant (TBA), a role she said she has performed for over 30 years.

"I do not sell babies. I am known in this community as a traditional birth attendant," she said.

Mrs. Bankole stated that she is registered with the Eti-Osa Local Government as a TBA and had plans to take a formal course in traditional birth practices.

She claimed that one of the three babies recovered from her premises is her biological child, while the other two were temporarily placed in her care by their mothers.