The Ogun State Police Command has arrested three women and rescued three children in Ibafo following an investigation into an alleged child-stealing operation in the area.
The suspects — Kikelomo Jimoh, 36; Kayode Elizabeth; and Blessing Anochike, 60 — were arrested by detectives attached to the Ibafo Police Division after a report of child stealing triggered a sustained intelligence-led investigation.
According to a statement by the command, the investigation led to Jimoh’s arrest. During questioning, she allegedly provided information that directed detectives to Anochike’s residence, where they found and rescued three children.
The children were identified as Christiana Olowokere, 14; Olamilekan Abdurusheed, 16; and Rebecca Adeniji, 12. The police said preliminary findings indicated that Christiana had allegedly been sold for N500,000.
The command also said Olamilekan had previously absconded from his parents before he was allegedly abducted by the suspects.
The circumstances surrounding Rebecca’s movement and how she came into the custody of the suspects remain under investigation, the police said.
The suspects remain in police custody, while the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
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“The case has since been transferred to the SCID, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for discreet and comprehensive investigation to establish the full circumstances of the case, determine the individual roles of the suspects and identify any other persons connected to the alleged criminal enterprise,” the statement said.
The arrests come days after PREMIUM TIMES reported the discovery of a suspected interstate child-stealing and trafficking network operating across Oyo, Ogun and Delta states.
In that case, the Oyo State Police Command said it rescued 17 children and arrested seven suspects following an investigation into the disappearance of a three-year-old boy, Ifakunle Ifagbenro, during a masquerade festival in Oyo town.
The investigation, according to the Oyo police, later uncovered a wider network allegedly involved in the stealing, movement, sale and concealment of children. The police also said six other children allegedly died while in captivity.
The investigation extended to Ogun State, where police said one of the suspects was traced to Mowe. Four children were reportedly rescued from her custody, while two pregnant young women were also found at the location.
One of the suspects arrested in the Oyo investigation, Adejoke Popoola, allegedly told the police that she sold her newborn twins for N300,000 and stole at least 13 children, receiving between N80,000 and N120,000 for each child she allegedly supplied.
Other suspects arrested in connection with the investigation include Janet Adekanbi, who was arrested in Ogun State, as well as Joy Christopher and Rosemary Jesse, who were arrested in Delta State.
Premium Times
