BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—Four children kidnapped from the Ijesha-Tedo area of Lagos State have been rescued by operatives of the Lagos State Police Command after a suspected child trafficker abandoned them and fled during a late-night patrol operation at Alafia Bus Terminal in Coker-Orile.
The dramatic rescue occurred on Thursday, May 8, 2026, at about 11:40 p.m., when a police patrol team monitoring the area spotted the children in the company of an unidentified woman preparing to board a luxury bus heading out of Lagos.
According to the Police, the woman became suspicious upon noticing the approaching patrol officers and immediately fled the scene, leaving the children behind before escaping to an unknown destination.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the children had earlier been kidnapped from the Ijesha-Tedo community and were allegedly being trafficked out of the state under the cover of darkness before the police intervention foiled the plan.
The rescued children were taken into protective custody as detectives launched efforts to trace their families. Authorities later contacted the parents, and all four children were safely reunited with their families.
Police authorities said investigation is ongoing to track down the fleeing suspect and uncover other members of the suspected child trafficking network.
Commending the patrol officers for their vigilance and professionalism, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai, reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling crimes against children and protecting vulnerable residents across the state.
The Police also urged parents and guardians to remain watchful over their children and promptly report suspicious persons or movements involving minors to security agencies.
