The Ekiti State Police Command has uncovered an illegal baby factory in Ikere-Ekiti, the headquarters of Ikere Local Government Area of the state, arresting five suspects and rescuing six children.

The Commissioner of Police, Joseph Eribo, disclosed this during a press briefing at the command’s headquarters in Ado-Ekiti while highlighting recent operational breakthroughs recorded by the command.

According to him, the arrests followed a credible tip-off received by the police on January 24, 2026, indicating that a 43-year-old suspect, Oluwadare Onyechi, was allegedly operating a baby factory alongside four accomplices at a location along Ise-Ekiti Road, Ikere-Ekiti.

He explained that acting swiftly on the intelligence, police operatives cordoned off the premises and arrested the suspects without incident.

Those apprehended alongside Onyechi include Onuoha Gloria (28), Victoria Linus (25), Ihegbogu Mercy (21), and Emmanuel Esther (23), who was heavily pregnant at the time of her arrest. Eribo said a thorough search of the premises led to the rescue of six children between the ages of two and nine, who were reasonably suspected to be under bondage and exploitation.

Items recovered from the scene, according to the police boss, include baby delivery materials, rolls of dexamethasone tablets and several bottles of Goya oil. He added that efforts were ongoing to track down and arrest other accomplices connected to the illegal operation.

Meanwhile, a resident of the area, Sunday Afolabi, who has lived in the neighbourhood for over eight years, disclosed that the prime suspect had resided in the community for several years. He added that residents had often noticed frequent visits by luxury vehicles to the house and initially assumed the visitors were family members.

However, he noted that the community was completely unaware of any alleged baby factory operation until security operatives stormed the area and carried out the arrests.

In a related development, the Ekiti State Police Command also arrested a notorious kidnapper and cattle rustler identified as Ibrahim Abubakar.

The Commissioner of Police revealed that investigations showed Abubakar had, over the years, rustled numerous cattle across Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi states, adding that he had been on the wanted list of the three states.

According to Eribo, during interrogation, Abubakar confessed to being involved in cattle rustling and admitted to attacking cattle owners on several occasions and making away with their livestock.

He disclosed that a total of 255 rustled cattle were recovered from the suspect, adding that further investigations were ongoing and that the suspects would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations. (Nigerian Tribune)