The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has secured a 14-year jail term for a couple, Abiodun Ogundeji and Happiness Ogundeji, for operating a baby factory in Ilutitun, Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State.

The Lagos Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Mrs Comfort Agboko, disclosed this during a press briefing at the agency’s headquarters in Ikeja on Tuesday.

Agboko said the conviction followed an 11-year trial before a Federal High Court sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

According to her, the case was initially referred to NAPTIP by the Nigerian Immigration Service in January 2014, which led to a detailed investigation.

She explained that preliminary findings revealed that the convicts operated the illegal baby factory at their country home located at No. 10 Sarajo Street, Ilutitun.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the two convicts operated a baby factory at their country home, where underage pregnant girls were brought in and detained against their will, deliberately awaiting delivery of their babies for sale to customers,” Agboko said.

She added that a search of the premises uncovered several items, including hospital cards, eight cars with their keys, two bungalows, N4m in cash found in the trunk of one of the vehicles, a poultry farm and various domestic animals.

Agboko disclosed that NAPTIP obtained a court order on May 12, 2014, from the Federal High Court in Akure to seal and seize the properties found within the premises.

She further stated that after years of prosecution, Justice F. A. Olubanjo found the defendants guilty on a 10-count charge bordering on unlawful detention of victims and deprivation of personal liberty, contrary to Section 19(c) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Law Enforcement and Administration Act, 2003.

“The convicts, Ogundeji Happiness Ayodele (female) and Prince Ogundeji Abiodun (male), were on Thursday, February 26, 2026, sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine by the Federal High Court in Akure,” she said.

The court also ordered the forfeiture of the eight cars and two bungalows traced to the convicts as proceeds of crime to the Federal Government of Nigeria through NAPTIP.

Agboko added that the N4m recovered during the investigation was also forfeited to the Federal Government.

“The court further ordered that the properties of the convicts be auctioned and directed that N1m each be paid as restitution to the three victims who testified during the trial,” she said.

Describing the judgment as a landmark achievement, Agboko said it would serve as a strong deterrent to human traffickers.

“This is a landmark conviction that sends a clear warning to perpetrators of human trafficking that, no matter how long it takes, they will eventually face the full wrath of the law,” she said.

She commended the judiciary, the Nigerian Immigration Service, the Nigeria Police in Akure and other stakeholders for their support in securing the conviction.

The conviction adds to a growing list of successes recorded by NAPTIP in its fight against human trafficking nationwide.

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Two suspected cultists, identified simply as Monday and Efe, have been shot dead in a fresh wave of cult-related violence in the Ojo area of Lagos State.

PUNCH Metro gathered that the killings occurred on Sunday at different locations within the community.

A source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the incident, said the victims were discovered with gunshot wounds.

“Two bodies were found in the community on Sunday with gunshot injuries. We later learnt that the killings were carried out by suspected cultists in what appeared to be a reprisal attack by rival groups. The police subsequently evacuated the bodies,” the source said.

An anti-cultism platform, Confra Naija, alleged in a post on X that one of the victims, Monday, was a former chairman of the Neo Black Movement in Alaba International Market, and was also described by some as a long-time leader of the Aye confraternity in the area.

The platform claimed that Monday had been a target for some time and that a close associate of his, also said to be a former Aye leader, was killed in March last year.

Confra Naija further alleged that the second victim, Efe, was another NBM leader in Ojo, though he was said not to be a regular presence in the area.

According to the platform, Efe was reportedly attacked while outside charging his phone during a power outage. The post alleged that suspected members of a rival group accosted and killed him.

In a video seen by PUNCH Metro, one of the victims was lying in what appeared to be an electronics shop, while gunshots were heard. Another clip showed a man lying motionless with visible gunshot wounds.

Reacting to the incident on X, a user, Roland Inuedo, expressed concern over the spate of violence in Ojo and surrounding areas.

As of the time of filing this report, the Lagos State Police Command had yet to officially confirm the incident. Calls and a text message sent to the state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, were not responded to.

Cult-related violence has persisted in parts of Lagos despite ongoing efforts by security agencies to curb the menace.

In September 2025, PUNCH Metro reported that residents of Orita Adeba in Lakowe and Sangotedo were thrown into panic after suspected cult clashes left two young men dead in separate reprisal attacks.

The Department of State Services has arrested a 26-year-old man, Udeme Stephen, for allegedly claiming responsibility for the recent attack on the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi.

Stephen was apprehended following a threat he posted on his X account, @stevetom788, shortly after armed men fired gunshots at the African Democratic Congress secretariat and Chief John Odigie-Oyegun’s residence in Benin, Edo State.

Present at the event were Obi, Odigie-Oyegun, former President of the Nigeria Bar Association, Olumide Akpata and some ADC leaders.

In his post, Stephen claimed responsibility for the incident and issued further threats against Obi.

He wrote that Obi was fortunate to have survived the Benin attack and warned that he would not be “that lucky next time,” alleging that his associates would target the former presidential candidate during a planned visit to Rivers State.

“We warned Obi against his entrance into Edo State, but he mistook our resolve for his Obidiots online noise.

“Thank his stars he (Obi) survived this one… I learnt he’s going to my Rivers State… Na my men go handle that one and dem no dey miss target…

“Speak no peace to a bastard and wish him no long life, for he’s destined to die,” Udeme posted.

Speaking on Monday, a top security source disclosed that the DSS immediately launched a covert investigation after the threat was issued.

The source added that operatives deployed forensic analysis to track the suspect.

He identified Stephen as a teacher at Jessica High School in Eliozu, located in the Umuehere Community of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

“No sooner had Stephen issued the threat than DSS operatives began a covert investigation, deploying forensic analysis to track and arrest him.

“The suspect is 26 years old, called Udeme Monday Stephen, and teaches at Jessica High School in Eliozu, Rivers State, at Umuehere Community, in Obio-Akpor LGA of the state.

“I strongly believe that the outcome of the agency’s forensic investigations implicated the suspect.

“Stephen is currently in custody and will soon be charged in court,” the statement said.

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