Ondo State Police Command Busts Child Trafficking Syndicate, Recovers 32 Suspected Stolen Kids, Arrests Three Suspects

By Ayodele Oni

32 kids suspected to have been stolen at different locations in the country have been recovered by the Ondo State Police Command.

The command also arrested two women and a man suspected to be ring leaders of child trafficking

Briefing journalists in Akure at the weekend, the Commissioner of Police,

Willfred Olutokunbo Afolabi, revealed that the syndicate’s activities were botched following a report of a missing child in Akure.

According to him: “The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended a syndicate whose specialty is in child stealing and trafficking.  A case of a missing child was reported at Okuta Elerin-Nla Division in Akure.

“A complainant reported that a man, Samuel Adejobi (real name: Lukman Isiaka, m age , 42 years), and a woman, Ewatomi (real name: Abosede Olanipekun), came to her shop pretending to be siblings to eat, while playing with the complainant’s child, Abosede deceived her by claiming she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby.

“Meanwhile, Lukman distracted the complainant by engaging her in a personal conversation and requested she followed her to Olukayode plaza in the market to get a mobile phone.

“On getting to the market area, he abandoned her and left, on getting back to the shop, the complainant discovered that her child was missing with no trace of Abosede the supposed sister of the man she followed to the market, thus a report was made at the Division.

“Through intelligence-led policing, the suspects were traced to Ottah Village in Edo State, where they were arrested.

“During interrogation, the suspects admitted to abducting the child and other children from Ondo and Osun States and selling them to one Sabira Izuorah ‘f’ age 62 years) in Ihiala, Anambra State, at the rate of One Million Naira (₦1,000,000) per child.

“Subsequently, Sabina was arrested in Ihiala and the following babies were found in her custody:

1. Baby Favour (female, 3 weeks old)
2. Baby Chidera (female, 2 weeks old)
3. Baby Chinyere (female, 2 months and 5 days old)
4. Baby Uzoma (male, 1 week old)

“Also, on the 14th of January 2025, ten children sold by Mrs. Izuorah were rescued from various locations, and the following were identified by their parents:

1. Dauda Alarape (male, 3½ years)
2. Babalola David (male, 4 years)
3. Asaolu Pamilerin (7 years)
4. Ayomide Abass (male, 2 years, stolen from Orita-Obele, Akure)
5. Komolafe Oluwasekemi (female, 4 years, stolen from Igado, Ilesha)
6. Adedeji Olalekan (male, 6½ years)
7. Ahmed Abdulrasaq (male, 5½ years, stolen from Ibodi Town, Osun State)
8. Mary Wuraola (female, 2 years, stolen from Ilesha, Osun State)
9. Mubarak Akinwunmi (male, 6 years, stolen from Osogbo, Osun State)
10. Unknown child (name/parents yet to be identified, stolen from Osun State).

“Some children are currently on the missing list while efforts are ongoing to locate and rescue them. The suspects will be charged to court upon completion of the investigation.”

The commissioner further announced the arrest a man that specializes in stealing of vehicles from where they were parked.

“In 2024, a case of car theft (removed from a park) at Oke Aro, Akure was reported to the Police, the vehicle was flagged down at the Licensing office. Two weeks ago, the vehicle was presented for registration at the Licensing office and the Police was alerted.

“The man who came to register the car claimed he purchased the vehicle in Lagos at the rate of Four Million Three Hundred Thousand Naira (4,300,000.00 from a car Dealer by name Temidayo Folajimi ‘M’ age 43 years who led the police to one Rotimi akinsanoye ’m’ age 38years.

“During interrogation, Rotimi confessed that he is the mastermind behind most vehicles stolen (removal from Parks) and confessed to have moved a total of seven vehicles out of the state.

“The vehicles he claimed he removed from where parked includes: Two (2) Toyota Camry Popularly known as tiny light, one Honda CRV car, two (2) Toyota Corolla 2003 and 2005 model, 2 Toyota Corolla.

“He claimed five (5) out of the stolen cars were butchered and sold as spare parts by his cohort Waheed Adekanbi (aka Elubo) in Lagos.

“Two of the vehicles have been recovered while others have been destroyed. Waheed Adekanbi ‘m’ age 51years is in custody, helping the police with necessary information needed to confirm the veracity of the claim that the remaining vehicles have been destroyed and sold as spare parts.”