The Oyo State Police Command has uncovered an interstate child-stealing and human trafficking syndicate, rescuing 17 children and arresting seven suspects in connection with the criminal network.
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, disclosed this on Monday, September 7, 2026, at a press briefing held at the Police State Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
Olugbenga said the breakthrough followed an intelligence-led investigation which began with a petition dated July 29, 2026, submitted by Adejoke Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo.
The petition initially bordered on conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to life and defamation of character, but investigations subsequently drew the attention of detectives to the disappearance of a three-year-old boy, Ifakunle Ifagbenro.
According to the Commissioner, Ifakunle disappeared on June 29, 2026, during an annual masquerade festival at his father-in-law’s family compound in Oyo Town. He said pictorial and video evidence from the event showed Popoola carrying the child shortly before both of them disappeared from the venue.
The suspect was arrested on August 4, 2026, and allegedly admitted leaving the festival with the child. During interrogation, she reportedly disclosed her involvement in the stealing of more than 15 children, aged between two and seven years, from churches, parties and other events within and outside Oyo State.
Olugbenga said Popoola identified Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, as her alleged partner in the operation. Janet was subsequently traced and arrested in Mowe, Ogun State, where four children aged between two and four years were rescued from her custody, alongside two pregnant young women.
The Commissioner said further investigations led detectives to Agbor, Delta State, on September 2, where four children allegedly stolen from Oyo State were rescued from their buyers. Two suspects, identified as 48-year-old Christopher Joy and 53-year-old Rosemary Jesse, were also arrested in connection with the alleged transaction.
He said the investigation had established the interstate nature of the syndicate, with stolen children allegedly moved across state boundaries and kept in custody pending sale.
The Police also disclosed a disturbing allegation that children who died while in the custody of the suspects were allegedly sold to ritualists. This reportedly led to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi, an Islamic cleric, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist, who the Police said had confessed to their alleged involvement in using the bodies for ritual purposes.
The seven suspects arrested in connection with the investigation are Adejoke Popoola, Adekanbi Janet, Christopher Joy, Rosemary Jesse, Muritala Fasasi, Yakubu Azeez and Ismaila Alabede.
The Command also disclosed that six children allegedly died while in the custody of their abductors. 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.
The 17 rescued children include three-year old Ifakunle Ifagbenro, Musibau Olasupo, 5; Sulaimon Osamo, 7; Murina Fidaus, 3; Aminat Yusuf, 3; Taiwo Olamilekan, 3; a nine-day-old infant; Rafiat Waheed Babalola, 2; Quwiyat Alade, 5; Rejoice Divine, 3; Alhaji Divine, 5; Eniolorunda, 3; Victoria, 3; Isoma Prince, 3; Roqeeba, 4; Boluwatife Odedeyi, 3; and Ireoluwa Elizabeth Olapade, 7.
The Police Commissioner urged parents and guardians who have lost children in recent times to visit the Oyo State 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 unravel the full structure of the syndicate, locate other missing children, establish the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths and ensure that all those found culpable were brought to justice.
Olugbenga also urged members of the public to report cases of missing children to the Police immediately, while cautioning parents against entrusting their children to persons posing as traditional or spiritual healers, particularly those seeking to separate children from their families or take them to undisclosed locations.
He assured the public that credible information provided to the Police would be handled professionally and, where necessary, confidentially, stressing that the Command remained committed to protecting children and other vulnerable persons and dismantling criminal networks in the state.
