7 Arrested as Oyo Police Bust Child Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue 17, Six Children Die In Captivity

The Oyo State Police Command has arrested seven suspects in connection with an alleged child trafficking syndicate, rescued 17 children and disclosed that six other children died while in captivity.

The command said the suspects were linked to a criminal network allegedly involved in the stealing, trafficking and concealment of children across state lines.

The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the Police State Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

Olugbenga said the investigation followed a petition dated July 29, 2026, submitted by Adejoke Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, of Sogade Area, Ariyo, Ibadan, over allegations bordering on conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to life and defamation of character.

He said the petition was subsequently assigned to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad on August 3 for investigation.

According to the commissioner, while detectives were examining the circumstances surrounding the petition, their attention was drawn to the disappearance of a three-year-old boy, Ifakunle Ifagbenro, during an annual masquerade festival in Oyo Town on June 29.

He explained that the child had accompanied his father to his father-in-law’s family compound for the festival, while Popoola had arrived two days earlier to participate in preparations for the event.

Olugbenga said Popoola offered to carry the child during the event, after which both of them disappeared from the venue.

The matter was subsequently reported at the Atiba Police Divisional Headquarters, Oyo Town.

The police commissioner said photographs and video recordings from the event showed Popoola carrying the missing child, while digital evidence and statements obtained from people connected with the event further established that she was with the child around the time of his disappearance.

Popoola was arrested on August 4 and, according to the commissioner, admitted attending the masquerade festival and subsequently leaving with the child.

Olugbenga said her statement provided a major breakthrough for investigators, leading to the discovery of what the police described as a wider criminal network allegedly involved in the stealing and sale of children.

The suspect reportedly disclosed that she had been involved in the alleged stealing of more than 15 children, aged between two and seven years, from churches, parties and other event venues within and outside Oyo State.

She also reportedly identified Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, as an alleged accomplice.

Adekanbi was subsequently traced to Mowe, Ogun State, where police rescued four children, aged between two and four years, from suspected custody and recovered two pregnant young women.

The commissioner said Adekanbi admitted knowing Popoola for about 10 years in connection with the alleged stealing and sale of children, although she denied having custody of Ifakunle.

According to him, Adekanbi further disclosed that some of the stolen children were kept in custody pending their sale, while the pregnant women were allegedly cared for until delivery.

Information obtained from her subsequently led detectives to the location of Ifakunle, who was rescued around the Gbagi area of Ibadan on August 20.

The investigation later extended beyond Oyo State.

Olugbenga said detectives travelled to Agbor, Delta State, on September 2, where four children allegedly stolen from Oyo State were rescued from suspected buyers.

Two suspects, identified as 48-year-old Christopher Joy and 53-year-old Rosemary Jesse, were arrested and allegedly confessed to involvement in the illegal business.

The commissioner said the development confirmed the interstate dimension of the alleged criminal network, with children allegedly being moved outside Oyo State as part of the operation.

He further disclosed that the investigation uncovered an alleged ritual dimension to the activities of the syndicate.

According to him, one of the suspects allegedly confessed that whenever a child died while in their custody, the body was allegedly sold to ritualists.

The disclosure reportedly led to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi, an Alfa, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist, who the police said confessed to alleged involvement in using the bodies for ritual purposes.

The police also disclosed a chilling account allegedly made by one of the principal suspects, who reportedly told investigators that she had stolen 13 children before her arrest.

According to the account released by the police, the suspect said she would visit homes and, whenever she found nobody around, take a child.

She reportedly told investigators that the children were sold for between N500,000 and N600,000 and claimed to have been involved in the alleged business since October 2024.

The suspect also allegedly explained how children could be taken from locations where traditional or spiritual activities were being held by first gaining the confidence of their parents.

In one instance, she reportedly claimed that she would approach parents of children with disabilities and tell them that she could help heal the children before allegedly taking them away.

The six children confirmed dead were identified as Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, two; Greatness Adeagbo, five; Sainat Amoo, two; Taiwo Usman, two; Daniel Solomon Olayinka, seven; and Miracle Olaniyi, four.

The 17 rescued children were identified as Ifakunle Ifagbenro, three; Musibau Olasupo, five; Sulaimon Osamo, seven; Murina Fidaus, three; Aminat Yusuf, three; Taiwo Olamilekan, three; an infant male aged nine days; Rafiat Waheed Babalola, two; Quwiyat Alade, five; Rejoice Divine, three; Alhaji Divine, five; Eniolorunda, three; Victoria, three; Isoma Prince, three; Roqeeba, four; Boluwatife Odedeyi, three; and Ireoluwa Elizabeth Olapade, seven.

The commissioner appealed to parents and guardians who had lost their children in recent times to visit the Police Command Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, to identify the rescued children and facilitate their reunification with their families.

He said the command was working with relevant security and government agencies to uncover the full structure of the alleged network, locate other missing children, establish the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths and ensure that anyone found culpable was brought to justice.

Olugbenga urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report cases of missing children to the police without delay.

He particularly cautioned parents and guardians to exercise care when dealing with individuals who present themselves as traditional or spiritual healers, especially where such persons seek to separate children from their families or take them to undisclosed locations.

The commissioner also appealed to members of the public with credible information that could assist the investigation to contact the police, assuring that such information would be handled professionally and, where necessary, confidentially.

He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting children and other vulnerable persons, dismantling criminal networks and ensuring that anyone found responsible is prosecuted in accordance with the law.

Source: Western mirror News