The Oyo State Police Command has uncovered an alleged interstate child-stealing and human-trafficking network, rescuing 17 children, arresting seven suspects and confirming that six other children died while allegedly in the custody of the syndicate.
The disturbing development was disclosed by the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, on Monday.
According to the commissioner, the breakthrough followed an intelligence-led investigation into a criminal network allegedly involved in the stealing, movement, sale and concealment of children across state boundaries.
The investigation began with a petition dated July 29, 2026, submitted by Adejoke Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, of Sogade Area, Ariyo, Ibadan, over allegations including conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to life and defamation of character. The petition was assigned to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad on August 3.
While investigating the matter, detectives were alerted to the disappearance of three-year-old Ifakunle Ifagbenro during an annual masquerade festival in Oyo town on June 29.
Olugbenga said 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.
The commissioner said Popoola offered to carry the child during the festival, after which she allegedly disappeared from the venue with him. The matter was subsequently reported at the Atiba Police Divisional Headquarters in Oyo.
According to the police, photographs and video recordings from the event showed Popoola carrying the missing child, while digital trails and statements obtained from people connected with the event further placed her with the child around the time of his disappearance.
Popoola was arrested on August 4 and allegedly admitted attending the festival and subsequently leaving with the child.
Her statement, according to Olugbenga, provided investigators with a major breakthrough that led to the discovery of a wider criminal network.
Suspect Allegedly Admits Stealing More Than 15 Children
The police commissioner said Popoola allegedly disclosed that she had participated in the 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 reportedly identified Janet Adekanbi, also known as Hosanna, as an alleged accomplice.
Adekanbi was subsequently traced to Mowe in Ogun State, where police rescued four children aged between two and four years and recovered two pregnant young women.
Olugbenga 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.
She allegedly 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 during the investigation later led detectives to Ifakunle, who was rescued around the Gbagi area of Ibadan on August 20.
Investigation Extends to Delta State
The investigation subsequently spread 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 Joy Christopher and 53-year-old Rosemary Jesse, were arrested and allegedly confessed to involvement in the illicit trade.
The development, the commissioner said, confirmed the interstate nature of the suspected network, with children allegedly being moved from Oyo State to other parts of the country.
Police Allege Ritual Dimension
The investigation took a more disturbing turn when the police said they uncovered an alleged ritual dimension to the activities of the suspected syndicate.
According to Olugbenga, one of the suspects allegedly confessed that whenever a child died while in their custody, the body was sold to suspected ritualists.
The disclosure reportedly led to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi, described by the police as an Alfa, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist, who the command accused of involvement in the alleged use of the bodies for ritual purposes.
The commissioner also said one of the principal suspects, who reportedly operated under the nickname Orente, told investigators that she had stolen 13 children before her arrest.
According to the police, she allegedly said children were sold for between N500,000 and N600,000 and claimed to have been involved in the trade since October 2024.
She also reportedly described how children were allegedly taken from venues where traditional or spiritual activities were being held by gaining the confidence of their parents.
In one instance, she allegedly claimed that she approached parents of children with disabilities under the guise of offering healing assistance before taking the children away.
Six Children Reportedly Dead
The police identified the six children who reportedly died in captivity 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 include Ifakunle Ifagbenro, three; Musibau Olasupo, five; Sulaimon Osamo, seven; Murina Fidaus, three; Aminat Yusuf, three; Taiwo Olamilekan, three; a nine-day-old male infant; 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 command has appealed to parents and guardians who have lost children in recent times to visit the police headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to identify the rescued children and facilitate their reunification with their families.
Olugbenga said the command was working with other security and government agencies to uncover the full structure of the suspected network, locate other missing children, establish the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths and ensure that anyone found culpable faced prosecution. He urged members of the public to report cases of missing children to the police without delay.
The commissioner also cautioned parents and guardians to be vigilant around individuals who present themselves as traditional or spiritual healers, particularly those who seek to separate children from their families or take them to undisclosed locations.
He appealed to anyone with credible information that could assist the investigation to contact the police, assuring that such information would be treated professionally and, where necessary, confidentially.
The police investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the full extent of the alleged network and identify other potential victims and accomplices.
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