Three women have been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command over the alleged stealing and abduction of children in Ibafo, with three minors rescued during the investigation.
Detectives attached to the Ibafo division of the Ogun State police command have arrested three women suspected of belonging to a child-stealing gang and rescued three children in connection with the case, reports The Guardian.
The suspects were identified by the police as Kikelomo Jimoh, 36; Kayode Elizabeth; and Blessing Anochike, 60.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP,Oluseyi Babaseyi, said the arrests followed an intelligence-led investigation into a reported case of child stealing, which led to Jimoh’s arrest.
During questioning, she allegedly confessed and took detectives to Anochike’s residence, where the three children were found.
The children were identified as Christiana Olowokere, 14; Olamilekan Abdurusheed, 16; and Adeniji Rebecca, 12.
According to the Command image maker, preliminary investigations indicated that Christiana had allegedly been sold for N500,000, while Olamilekan, who had previously left his parents’ home, was later allegedly abducted.
The circumstances surrounding the movement and custody of Rebecca are still being investigated, the command said.
The police said the three children were rescued and are now safe, while the suspects remain in custody.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
Babaseyi explained that the investigation would seek to establish the full circumstances of the alleged offences, determine the roles played by each suspect and identify any other people linked to the suspected criminal network.
The Ogun State commissioner of police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the Ibafo detectives for their response and investigative work, saying the command remained committed to protecting children and other vulnerable people.
Ojajuni urged parents, guardians, community leaders, schools, transport operators and residents to remain vigilant and report unexplained disappearances, suspicious movements, unusual custody arrangements or any activity that could indicate the sale, abduction or exploitation of children.
“A child’s safety is everyone’s responsibility,” the Command said, urging residents to speak up when they notice suspicious activity.
