The Oyo State Police Command has rescued 17 children and arrested seven suspects in connection with a suspected interstate child-stealing and trafficking syndicate operating across several states.
One of the suspects, Adejoke Popoola, allegedly confessed to stealing children and selling two sets of children she gave birth to, including a newborn boy and twins.
Popoola, who spoke at the command headquarters in Ibadan on Monday, claimed she had been involved in child trafficking since October 2024. She said the twins were sold to a clinic in Ogeere for N300,000, while other children fetched between N80,000 and N120,000 each.
She also confessed to allegedly stealing a three-year-old boy, Ifakunle Ifagbenro, during an Egungun festival in Oyo Town.
According to her, she volunteered to carry the boy during the procession before taking him away and fleeing with him.
The Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, said the investigation began with a petition dated July 29, 2026, submitted by Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo.
He said detectives subsequently linked her to Ifakunle’s disappearance on June 29 and arrested her on August 4. Her alleged confession led police to uncover a wider network involved in the stealing, movement, sale and concealment of children.
Olugbenga said Popoola allegedly admitted stealing more than 15 children, aged between two and seven, from churches, parties and other events within and outside Oyo State.
She allegedly identified Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, as her accomplice. Police later arrested Janet in Mowe, Ogun State, where four children and two pregnant young women were reportedly rescued.
The CP said further investigation led to the rescue of Ifakunle in the Gbagi area of Ibadan on August 20 and four other children allegedly stolen from Oyo State in Agbor, Delta State, on September 2.
Two suspects, Christopher Joy, 48, and Rosemary Jesse, 53, were arrested in connection with the Agbor operation.
Olugbenga said the investigation also uncovered allegations that children who died in the suspects’ custody were sold to suspected ritualists. This led to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi, an Alfa, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist.
The police said six children allegedly died while in the custody of the suspects. They were identified as Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, 2; Greatness Adeagbo, 5; Sainat Amoo, 2; Taiwo Usman, 2; Daniel Solomon Olayinka, 7; and Miracle Olaniyi, 4.
Olugbenga urged parents and guardians whose children have gone missing to visit the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to identify the rescued children and facilitate their reunification with their families.