•The suspects
One will always wonder if some criminal elements in our society always consider the consequences behind their heinous act before perpetrating them.
In the past, some crimes like armed robbery, kidnaping for ransom, money laundering, murder, were synonymous with men but recently some greedy women have proved that notion wrong as it’s worrisome to now have more women, that have passed through the pains of child-labour to become mother, are now deeply involved in crime related to child molestation, child trafficking, child stealing in exchange for money and ritual purposes. It’s worrisome.
The recent achievement of the Oyo State Police Command which led to the rescue of not fewer than seventeen (17) underaged children from the den of their abductors across the country exposed how cruel and dangerous some women can be in search of money, reports Sunday Independent.
The most interesting part of the whole story that led to the rescue of the little victims and the arrest of the suspected child-stealing syndicate is the fact that one of the suspects, Adejoke Popoola, popularly known as “Orente Alagbo” was the one that went to lodge a complaint at the police station over alleged conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to her life and defamation of her character, not knowing that she would later be the one that would eventually assist the police to arrest her other gang members, in their operating zones across the country.
“Orente Alagbo” who had been in the trade for over 10 years, according to her confessions, specialised in attending events both at churches, mosques, traditional festivals and even “Owambe” parties to steal innocent children from their parents.
She knows no boundaries as infants, two to three years old, even teenagers’ children are not spared on her list of operations.
Adejoke Orente Alagbo later led the personnel of Anti–kidnapping department of the Oyo State Police Command to far away Agbor town in Delta State where her business partners, a 48-year-old Christopher Joy and 53-year-old Rosemary Jesse, were arrested in connection with the development.
It all began with a petition, on July 29, 2026, a woman walked into the Oyo State Police Command to complain about alleged conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to life and defamation of character. Three weeks later, that same petition opened up what police now describe as a cross-state child-stealing and trafficking syndicate.
The petitioner was Adejoke Popoola, popularly known as “Orente Alagbo.” Detectives who examined her complaint discovered a more sinister trail, the disappearance of a 3-year-old boy, Ifakunle Ifagbenro, at a masquerade festival in Oyo Town on June 29, 2026.
By September 2, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad had rescued 17 underage children, arrested seven suspects, and traced the network from Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, to Mowe in Ogun State and Agbor in Delta State.
According to the Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, Ifakunle had gone with his father to an annual masquerade festival at his maternal grandfather’s compound in Oyo Town.
CP Olugbenga told journalists at the Command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, that Orente Alagbo arrived two days before the festival to help with preparations. Video and photographs from the event showed her carrying the boy.
“Shortly afterwards, both Adejoke and the child disappeared from the venue. The matter was subsequently reported at Atiba Police Divisional Headquarters in Oyo Town,” the CP said.
Detectives tracked the digital trail, invited people seen in the footage for questioning, and arrested Orente Alagbo on August 4, 2026 at 2:30pm.
In her statement, she allegedly admitted taking the child and confessed to being in the “business” for over 10 years.
Police said Orente specialised in attending churches, mosques, traditional festivals and owambe parties to pick unsuspecting children. Victims on her list, according to her confession, ranged from infants to teenagers between the ages of 2 and 7.
She allegedly named her partner as Adekanbi Janet, popularly known as Hosanna.
Detectives traced Adekanbi to Mowe, Ogun State, where they rescued four children aged between 2 and 4. Two pregnant young women were also found in her custody.
Adekanbi allegedly admitted knowing Orente for 10 years and confirmed involvement in stealing and selling children, but denied having custody of Ifakunle.
CP Olugbenga said further questioning revealed a pattern: stolen children were kept pending sale. Pregnant young women were allegedly held until they delivered, after which the babies were taken from them to sell to ritualists.
Ifakunle himself was rescued on August 20, 2026 around Gbagi area of Ibadan.
While talking about the interstate link and the ritual angle of the development, the State Police commissioner said, the case took an interstate turn on September 2, 2026 when detectives travelled to Agbor, Delta State. There, police rescued four more children allegedly stolen from Oyo and arrested two buyers: 48-year-old Christopher Joy and 53-year-old Rosemary Jesse. Both, the CP said, confessed to involvement in the network.
Then came the darkest allegation. Police said some children died while in custody and their remains were allegedly sold to ritualists.
That led to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi, an Islamic cleric, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist. The CP said both allegedly confessed to using human remains for ritual purposes.
The 17 rescued children and the 6 unfortunate victims that lost their lives are: Ifakunle Ifagbenro, 3; Musibau Olasupo, 5; Sulaimon Osamo, 7; Murina Fidaus, 3; Aminat Yusuf, 3; Taiwo Olamilekan, 3; a 9-day-old male infant; Rafiat Waheed Babalola, 2; Quwiyat Alade, 5; Rejoice Divine, 3; Alhaji Divine, 5; Eniolorunda, 3; Victoria, 3; Isoma Prince, 3; Roqeeba, 4; Boluwatife Odedeyi, 3; and Ireoluwa Elizabeth Olapade, 7.
The Police chief gave names of the six other children who died in custody as: Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, 2; Greatness Adeagbo, 5; Sainat Amoo, 2; Taiwo Usman, 2; Daniel Solomon Olayinka, 7; and Miracle Olaniyi, 4.
