The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended a three-member syndicate allegedly involved in child trafficking and theft. The group includes a 62-year-old woman, Sabira Izuorah, and a couple, Isiaka Lukman, 42, and Abosede Lukman, 23.
The state’s Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed this development during a press briefing in Akure, confirming that 14 children were rescued during the operation.
Among them were four infants aged between one week and two months, and 10 children aged two to seven years.
According to Mr. Afolabi, the suspects were arrested after a missing child was reported at the Okuta Elerin-Nla Police Division in Akure. He revealed that Sabira, a resident of Ihiala in Anambra State, served as the buyer, while the Lukmans, from Ibadan in Oyo State, acted as the suppliers.
The Commissioner stated that the couple was tracked and arrested in Ottah Village, Edo State, following intelligence-led operations. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to abducting children from Ondo and Osun states and selling them to Sabira at N1 million per child.
Sabira was later arrested in Ihiala, where four babies were discovered in her custody.
Recounting one of their methods, Mr. Afolabi said:
“A complainant reported that a man, Samuel Adejobi (real name: Lukman Isiaka), and a woman, Ewatomi (real name: Abosede Olanipekun), came to her shop pretending to be siblings. While playing with the complainant’s child, Abosede deceived her by claiming she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby. Simultaneously, Lukman distracted the complainant by engaging her in a personal conversation and requested she follow him to Olukayode Plaza in the market to purchase a mobile phone. Upon returning to her shop, the complainant discovered her child was missing, along with Abosede.”
The Police Commissioner assured that the suspects would be prosecuted once investigations are concluded. Efforts are also ongoing to locate and rescue other children reported missing in the affected areas.
“This case highlights the importance of vigilance and community cooperation in tackling child trafficking. We are determined to bring all culprits to justice and reunite missing children with their families,” Afolabi emphasized.