BY SUNDAY SAMUEL—Following the ongoing investigation into a suspected child-stealing, human trafficking and baby factory syndicate, which has so far led to the rescue of 17 children and the arrest of suspects, the Oyo State Police Command has rescued an additional four children who were previously stolen from their biological parents and allegedly sold at different times.
The latest breakthrough followed the Command’s public briefing on the initial rescue, during which details of the recovery of the 17 children and the arrest of suspects were made public. Following the briefing and circulation of video clips of the rescue, parents who recognised the circumstances surrounding their missing children came forward to lodge complaints. Their complaints generated fresh investigative leads and prompted further questioning of the principal suspect, AdeJoke Popoola ‘F’, a.k.a. Orente Alagbo, who, during interrogation, revealed the whereabouts of additional children allegedly stolen and sold.
Acting on the information provided by the suspect and the leads generated from the complaints, operatives proceeded to Lagos State on 3 September 2026, where Taiwo Olamilekan ‘M’, aged 3 years, was rescued from the Akoka area.
Building on this breakthrough, operatives continued the investigation and, on 8 September 2026, rescued Aleemi Omogoriola Okuleye ‘M’ from the Ikorodu area of Lagos State. As the investigation continued to yield actionable leads, the investigative team extended its activities to Delta State on 13 September 2026 in pursuit of another lead relating to children allegedly stolen from their biological parents.
The continued investigative efforts culminated in the rescue of two children of the same parents from Agbor, Delta State, on 14 September 2026. The children, Adeyinka Ayomide ‘F’, aged 9 years, and Adeyinka Gold ‘F’, aged 2 years, were allegedly stolen from their parents in Ogun State and subsequently taken to Delta State.
Following the recovery of the four children, the Command conducted the necessary verification and successfully established the identities of their biological parents. The children have since been reunited with their respective families, bringing relief to families who had been separated from their children.
The recovery of these additional four children represents a further breakthrough in the ongoing investigation and underscores the value of sustained interrogation, credible information and the cooperation of affected families in tracing victims and unraveling the activities of the suspected syndicate.
Consequently, the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, psc, mnips, has directed the investigative team to sustain the momentum, pursue every credible lead towards identifying other victims, unravel the full network behind the child-stealing and trafficking operation, and bring all persons found culpable to justice.
The Command therefore urges parents and guardians whose children remain missing to come forward with relevant information that may assist investigators in tracing other victims and bringing those responsible for the criminal enterprise to justice.
