Oyo State Police Command has uncovered an alleged interstate child-stealing and trafficking syndicate, rescuing 17 children and arresting seven suspects linked to the network operating across Oyo, Ogun and Delta states.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Ibadan. He said the investigation began after a petition filed on July 29 and was later linked to the disappearance of three-year-old Ifakunle Ifagbenro during a masquerade festival in Oyo town on June 29.
According to Olugbenga, one of the suspects, Adejoke Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, allegedly admitted involvement in the stealing of more than 15 children aged between two and seven from churches, parties and other events. Her information reportedly led detectives to another suspect, Adekanbi Janet, who was arrested in Mowe, Ogun State, where four children were rescued.
The investigation was subsequently extended to Agbor, Delta State, where police rescued four children allegedly stolen from Oyo. Two suspects, Christopher Joy and Rosemary Jesse, were arrested in connection with the operation.
The police also said the investigation uncovered an alleged ritual dimension to the syndicate. Olugbenga said six children died while in the custody of their alleged abductors, while the bodies were allegedly sold to suspected ritualists. Two other suspects, identified as Muritala Fasasi, an Islamic cleric, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist, were arrested over the allegation.
The police commissioner urged parents and guardians who have recently lost children to visit the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to identify the rescued children and facilitate their reunification with their families.
