The Oyo State Police Command has rescued four additional children allegedly stolen from their biological parents and sold at different times, as part of an ongoing investigation into a suspected child-stealing, human trafficking and baby factory syndicate.
The latest recovery brings to 21 the number of children rescued so far in the investigation, following the earlier rescue of 17 children and the arrest of several suspects.
The Command disclosed this in a statement, saying the latest breakthrough followed its recent public briefing on the initial rescue operation, during which details of the recovery of the 17 children and arrests were made public.
According to the police, the circulation of video clips of the rescued children prompted some parents who recognised circumstances surrounding their missing children to approach the Command and lodge complaints.
The fresh complaints generated new investigative leads and led to further interrogation of the principal suspect, identified as AdeJoke Popoola, female, also known as “Orente Alagbo.”
Police said Popoola allegedly disclosed the whereabouts of additional children who had been stolen and sold.
Acting on information provided by the suspect and other investigative leads, police operatives proceeded to Lagos State on September 3, 2026, where they rescued three-year-old Taiwo Olamilekan from the Akoka area.
The investigative team subsequently extended its operation to other parts of Lagos, leading to the rescue of another child, Aleemi Omogoriola Okuleye, from the Ikorodu area on September 8.
As the investigation continued to produce further leads, operatives travelled to Delta State on September 13 in pursuit of information concerning other children allegedly stolen from their biological parents.
The operation culminated in the rescue of two children from the same family in Agbor, Delta State, on September 14.
The children, nine-year-old Adeyinka Ayomide and two-year-old Adeyinka Gold, were allegedly stolen from their parents in Ogun State and subsequently taken to Delta State.
The Police Command said it conducted necessary verification after recovering the four children and successfully established the identities of their biological parents.
The children have since been reunited with their respective families.
The Command described the recovery as another major breakthrough in the investigation, noting that sustained interrogation, credible information and the cooperation of affected families had contributed significantly to tracing the victims and uncovering the activities of the suspected syndicate.
The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, has directed the investigative team to sustain the momentum and pursue every credible lead towards identifying other victims.
He also ordered investigators to unravel the full network allegedly behind the child-stealing and trafficking operation and ensure that all persons found culpable are brought to justice.
The Command urged parents and guardians whose children remain missing to come forward with relevant information that could assist investigators in tracing other victims.
The police assured that such information would support ongoing efforts to dismantle the suspected criminal network and reunite more victims with their families.
