The Oyo State Police Command, has uncovered an alleged interstate child-stealing and trafficking network, with a female suspect confessing to selling two sets of children she gave birth to and allegedly stealing 19 others for onward sale.
The suspect, Adegjoke Popoola, was paraded alongside other suspects by the command in Ibadan on Monday, where she reportedly admitted that she had been involved in child trafficking since October 2024.
According to Popoola, she sold a newborn boy and a set of twins, with the twins allegedly sold to a clinic in Ogeere for N300,000.
She further disclosed that she sometimes received between N80,000 and N120,000 for each child sold.
The suspect, who claimed to have seven children of her own, said she ventured into the illegal business after experiencing difficulties with pregnancies she did not want.
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She also allegedly admitted stealing children from homes after gaining access to the premises under the guise of searching for accommodation.
“I steal babies. I will go to their place and say I want to rent a house. Then, if I do not see anyone, if I see their children, I will just steal their children,” she said.
Popoola reportedly told investigators that a woman she worked with at Ogeere Market taught her how to steal children.
She further alleged that she sometimes posed as a spiritualist to gain access to parents, particularly families with children living with disabilities.
According to her account, she would convince parents that she could assist their children before allegedly using the opportunity to steal another child.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Abimbola Olugbenga, said the investigation followed a petition dated July 29, 2026, but subsequently exposed what the command described as a wider network involved in the alleged stealing, movement, sale and concealment of children.
A major breakthrough came during investigations into the disappearance of three-year-old Ifakunle Ifagbenro at an Egungun festival in Oyo town on June 29.
Olugbenga said detectives obtained photographs and video recordings from the event which allegedly showed Popoola carrying the missing child. The suspect was arrested on August 4.
The commissioner said Popoola allegedly admitted leaving the festival with the boy and subsequently provided information on her alleged involvement in the theft of more than 15 children, mostly aged between two and seven years.
The children, according to the police, were allegedly stolen from churches, parties and other public gatherings within and outside Oyo State.
Popoola also reportedly identified Adekanbi Janet, popularly known as Hosanna, as an alleged accomplice.
The police said Janet was traced to Mowe, Ogun State, where detectives rescued four children aged between two and four years, as well as two pregnant young women.
The command said its investigation suggested that some of the stolen children were kept until buyers were found, while the pregnant women were allegedly kept in custody until they delivered their babies.
Information reportedly obtained from Janet also assisted detectives in locating Ifakunle, who was rescued in the Gbagi area of Ibadan on August 20.
The investigation later extended to Delta State, where police detectives travelled to Agbor on September 2 and rescued four children allegedly stolen from Oyo State.
Two suspects, Christopher Joy, 48, and Rosemary Jesse, 53, were arrested in connection with the operation.
The development, according to the police, indicated that the suspected trafficking network operated across state boundaries.
The investigation also uncovered allegations concerning the deaths of some children allegedly held by members of the syndicate.
The police said information received during the investigation suggested that some children who died in the suspects’ custody were allegedly sold to persons suspected to be ritualists.
This reportedly led to the arrest of two additional suspects, identified as Muritala Fasasi, an Alfa, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist.
Olugbenga said the command had so far rescued 17 children in connection with the investigation.
He added that six children reportedly died while allegedly in the custody of their abductors.
The deceased were identified as Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, two; Greatness Adeagbo, five; Sainat Amoo, two; Taiwo Usman, two; Daniel Solomon Olayinka, seven; and Miracle Olaniyi, four.
The police commissioner urged parents and guardians whose children had recently gone missing to visit the command headquarters at Eleyele, Ibadan, to ascertain whether any of the rescued children were their wards.
He said the initiative was intended to facilitate the identification and reunification of the rescued children with their families.
Olugbenga assured that the investigation would continue to uncover other members of the alleged network and establish the circumstances surrounding the trafficking and deaths of the affected children.
