Metro

NAPTIP Arrests 6 Over Alleged Baby Factory In Edo

Published

3 years ago

October 16, 2022

…Reveals How Suspects Connived With ‘Keke’ Driver To Kill Victim

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Person (NAPTIP), has arrested six persons allegedly involved in a baby factory in Edo State.

The suspects, it was gathered, were arrested in connection with the alleged sales of two babies delivered at the Grace Maternity Home at Upper Sakponba area of Benin City.

It was gathered that the suspects include Joy Ufunwen Enadeghe, three nurses of grace maternity home as well as the baby’s mother and her boyfriend.

The Edo State Commander of NAPTIP, Bar Nduka Nwanene, who confirmed the incident said the six suspects including the mother of the babies and her boyfriend have been arrested over the incident.

He said the baby’s mother and her boyfriend petitioned the agency that she met the principal suspect in 2020 when she was pregnant and took her to grace maternity home at Upper Sakpoba for delivery, adding that after delivery, Joy and the Nurse, Okogbuwa Tarah, who delivered her of the baby forcefully took the baby from her and pushed her out of the maternity at night.

According to her, she took the baby home and told the husband that she had delivered a baby boy.

“The victim narrated her story to a Keke rider who harboured her before going back to her parents in Nnewi, Anambra state.

He said: “When her parent demanded for the baby, she came back to Benin to meet the Keke man who harboured her instead of going to meet the suspect to demand for her baby. They became friends and relocated from Benin to Aghalokpe, Delta State and were living as husband and wife.”

Nwanene said the principal suspect who was feeling insecure that the woman might resurface to demand for the baby, asked her to come so that she can open a shop for her.

“But when she told her that she was no longer in Benin, the principal suspect then asked her to send her account number to send money for the business of her choice. The victim who was almost due for delivery told her she doesn’t have account, she then ask her to send POS number around her so that she can send the money through the POS.

“She sent the victim N100,000 through the POS, but when she went to withdraw the money, some persons sent by the suspect abducted her with the pregnancy”.

He said few days after she was brought to Benin, she went into labour and was taken to the same maternity home where she had earlier given birth and was also delivered of a baby boy in April.

He explained that the suspect and the nurse allegedly took the baby away on the guise of taken the baby to a good hospital for jaundice treatment but sold the baby and told her the baby died, adding that on noticing the countenance of the victim, they planned to kill her to conceal the alleged crime.

“The suspects hired a Keke man to kill her at night but the man took pity on her and took her to a hotel where they harboured girls for human trafficking, adding that she escaped when police raided the place and went back to meet the keke man who she has been living with.

He said during investigation, the agency discovered that the suspect sold the baby N500,000 in Benin, adding that the nurse gave N150,000 to his accomplice.

“The agency also discovered that the supposed victim was being used as baby factory. She was given money after the sales of the babies, she was working together with the principal suspects and was aware that she was being used as baby factory. She gave birth in 2020, 2021 and 2023 but they claimed the 2021 baby died after birth”

Nwanene added that the supposed victim with her boyfriend kept collecting money from the principal suspect threatening to tell her husband that she was not the mother of his child..

Nwanene said one of the babies has been recovered while the agency is making frantic efforts to recover the second baby, adding that they would be charged to Court.

Metro

Lagos Fire Service Rescues Woman From 60-foot Well In Ikorodu

Published

29 minutes ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has saved a 32-year-old woman who accidentally fell into an uncovered well approximately 60 feet deep at No. 14 Mustapha Bolatiwa Street, off Agric Bus Stop, in the Ikorodu area of the state.

The incident, which drew a large crowd of onlookers, was described by residents as “nothing short of a miracle.”

Eyewitnesses said the woman, whose identity had not been immediately confirmed, reportedly wandered from a nearby compound and was seated on the edge of the well before losing balance and falling in.

Following a distress call, operatives of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service arrived swiftly and launched a well-coordinated rescue operation.

Confirming the incident, the Director of the agency, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, said the woman was pulled out alive after a tense and delicate rescue effort.

“She was immediately stabilised and transported to a nearby hospital for further medical care,” Adeseye said.

She cautioned residents to ensure all open wells and similar structures are securely covered to prevent avoidable accidents.

Adeseye also praised the professionalism and prompt response of her team, reaffirming the agency’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property across Lagos State.

Metro

DSS Arrests Two Dismissed Officers Over Impersonation, Fraud

Published

29 minutes ago

October 16, 2025

Editor

The Department of State Services, DSS, has arrested two dismissed officers, Barry Donald and Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, accused of impersonating the Service to defraud unsuspecting Nigerians.

The DSS, in a statement issued on Wednesday, confirmed that both individuals, earlier declared wanted in separate public warnings, have been arrested and will be prosecuted in accordance with the law.

“The Department of State Services recently issued disclaimers on two dismissed personnel of the Service, Barry Donald and Victor Onyedikachi Godwin. These individuals were alleged to be cloaking under the Service to engage in fraudulent activities.

“The public is hereby notified that these culprits have been apprehended and will face prosecution in accordance with the law,” the Service said.

This comes after a series of alerts by the DSS warning Nigerians against dealing with the former officers dismissed for misconduct but still parading themselves as active operatives.

Recall that the secret police had raised the alarm over the activities of Victor Onyedikachi Godwin, accusing him of using the DSS name to defraud unsuspecting members of the public.

In the same vein, on October 8, a separate statement was issued concerning Barry Donald, another dismissed officer alleged to be impersonating the agency for fraudulent purposes.

The DSS said it remains committed to protecting Nigerians from impostors and maintaining public trust in the Service. It also revealed plans to publish the names of other previously dismissed personnel to prevent citizens from falling victim to similar schemes.

The DSS urged members of the public to verify all official engagements through its verified communication channels and to report any suspicious activities involving persons claiming to represent the Service.

Metro

Court Orders Exhumation, Autopsy Of Afriland Towers Fire Victims

Published

18 hours ago

October 15, 2025

Editor

A Yaba Chief Magistrate Court has ordered Femi Falana Chambers to seek the exhumation and autopsy of 10 victims of the Afriland Towers fire incident, which occurred on September 16, 2025, in Lagos.

Senior Magistrate Atinuke Adetunji gave the directive on Tuesday after learning that some of the victims had already been buried.

“The petitioner should write to the Lagos State Government for the exhumation of the dead victims and carry out an autopsy,” Magistrate Adetunji said.

The directive followed a letter from Femi Falana Chambers dated September 29, 2025, addressed to the Chief Coroner of Lagos State, Justice Mojisola Dada.

Mr Femi Falana (SAN), through his chambers, petitioned the Lagos State Judiciary, seeking a coroner’s inquest to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and ensure accountability.

During the preliminary proceedings, Magistrate Adetunji directed all parties present to submit the necessary applications before the next sitting.

The court also summoned the United Bank for Africa, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Fire Service, Afriland Towers, United Capital, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Safety Commission, and other interested parties.

Adetunji further ordered the petitioner to liaise with the families of the deceased to determine those willing to have their relatives exhumed for autopsy.

She also called for eyewitnesses to come forward and provide evidence on the incident.

Yahaya Atata, a lawyer from Falana’s chambers, told the court that the day’s proceedings were meant to engage all interested parties and outline the modalities for the coroner’s inquest.

However, the magistrate noted that the lawyers were not fully prepared and stressed that the inquest could only proceed after all necessary documents and applications had been filed.

A lawyer representing one of the deceased, A. O. Mema, informed the court that his client, Peter Ifaranmaye, a manager at the Federal Inland Revenue Service, had already been buried.

Following the information, Magistrate Adetunji insisted that an autopsy was essential.

“Autopsy is fundamental. We cannot just hold an inquest; there must be an autopsy to know exactly what happened,” she said.

The court adjourned the matter till November 26, 2025, for further proceedings.

The fire incident had broken out at the Afriland Towers, a commercial complex on Broad Street, Lagos Island, on September 16, 2025, killing at least 10 people and injuring several others.

Eyewitnesses said the blaze started in the early hours of the morning and quickly spread through multiple floors before emergency services could contain it.