The Lagos state police have rescued 19 pregnant women during raids at what they call “baby factories”.
The women, aged between 15 and 28 years, were found in four different locations in the city, according to police spokesperson Bala Elkana, who said four children were also rescued.
Most of the women had been abducted “for the purpose of getting them pregnant and selling the babies”, a police statement says.
Two women were arrested during the raids, while the main suspect escaped after getting wind of the police operation.
The police said that male babies would be sold for 500,000 naira and the females for 300,000 naira
Those who said they accepted to sell their children to the syndicate claimed they were not offered the money promised,
The police spokesperson said the victims come from different parts of the country and are usually lured with promises of employment as domestic workers in Lagos.
