Operatives of the Ekiti State Police Command have uncovered an illegal baby factory operating in Ikere Local Government Area of the state.
Briefing journalists in Ado-Ekiti, the Commissioner of Police, Joe Eribo, said the command acted on a credible tip-off that led to the arrest of one Onyechi Oluwadare and four other suspects at a location behind a popular hotel along Ise-Ekiti Road, Ikere-Ekiti.
Those arrested alongside Oluwadare include Onuoha Gloria, Victoria Linus, Ihegbogu Mercy, and a pregnant woman identified as Emmanuel Esther.
According to the police, the suspects were apprehended on 24 January 2026 at about 8:30 a.m. after operatives cordoned off the premises allegedly used for the illegal operation. A search of the building led to the rescue of six children aged between two and nine years, who were suspected to be held under bondage and exploitation. Officers also recovered baby delivery materials, rolls of dexamethasone tablets and bottles of Goya oil from the scene.
Speaking to journalists, the prime suspect, Onyechi, denied running a baby factory, claiming she only used the building as a place of prayer for people seeking divine favour.
In a separate operation, the command also arrested Ibrahim Abubakar, a suspected notorious cattle rustler. Police said investigations revealed that Abubakar had been involved in cattle rustling across Ekiti, Kwara and Kogi states and had long been on the wanted list of the three states.
During interrogation, Abubakar reportedly confessed to the crimes and admitted attacking cattle owners on several occasions. The police recovered 255 rustled cattle from him and an additional 303 cattle linked to another suspect, bringing the total number of recovered cattle to 558.