The Oyo State Police Command has rescued 17 children and arrested seven suspects following an intelligence-led investigation into an alleged child-stealing and human trafficking syndicate operating across several states.

The command also confirmed that six underage children allegedly abducted by the syndicate died while in captivity.

The Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.

He said the investigation began with a petition submitted on July 29, 2026, by Adejoke Popoola, popularly known as Orente Alagbo, over allegations including conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to life and defamation of character.

According to Olugbenga, while detectives were investigating the petition, they were drawn to the disappearance of three-year-old Ifakunle Ifagbenro during an annual masquerade festival in Oyo Town on June 29.

Popoola had reportedly offered to carry the child during the event, after which she and the boy disappeared.

Police later arrested her on August 4 after photographic, video and digital evidence allegedly linked her to the child’s disappearance.

The commissioner said Popoola admitted leaving the festival with Ifakunle and subsequently disclosed that she had been involved in the stealing of more than 15 children, aged between two and seven years, from churches, parties and other events within and outside Oyo State.

She reportedly identified Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, as a partner in the alleged criminal enterprise.

Adekanbi was subsequently traced to Mowe, Ogun State, where police reportedly rescued four children, aged between two and four years, from her custody and recovered two pregnant young women.

The police said Adekanbi admitted knowing Popoola for about 10 years in connection with the alleged stealing and sale of children, while information obtained from her later led detectives to Gbagi in Ibadan, where Ifakunle was rescued on August 20.

The investigation subsequently extended to Delta State, where detectives travelled to Agbor on September 2 and rescued four children allegedly stolen from Oyo State from suspected buyers.

Two suspects, identified as Christopher Joy, 48, and Rosemary Jesse, 53, were arrested and allegedly confessed to involvement in the illicit business, which police said confirmed the interstate dimension of the network.

Olugbenga further disclosed that investigations uncovered an alleged ritual dimension to the activities of the syndicate.

According to him, one suspect allegedly confessed that whenever a child died while in their custody, the body would be sold to ritualists.

This disclosure reportedly led to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi, an Alfa, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist, whom the police said confessed to alleged involvement in using the bodies for ritual purposes.

One of the principal suspects, nicknamed Orente, allegedly told investigators that she had stolen 13 children before her arrest and that the children were sold for between N500,000 and N600,000.

She reportedly claimed to have been involved in the operation since October 2024 and described how children were allegedly targeted at traditional and spiritual gatherings, as well as through gaining the confidence of parents.

The suspect allegedly told investigators that she sometimes visited homes and took children when nobody was around.

She also reportedly claimed that parents of children with disabilities were sometimes approached with promises that their children could be healed before the children were taken away.

The six children confirmed dead were identified as Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, 2; Greatness Adeagbo, 5; Sainat Amoo, 2; Taiwo Usman, 2; Daniel Solomon Olayinka, 7; and Miracle Olaniyi, 4.

The 17 rescued children include Ifakunle Ifagbenro, 3; Musibau Olasupo, 5; Sulaimon Osamo, 7; Murina Fidaus, 3; Aminat Yusuf, 3; Taiwo Olamilekan, 3; an unnamed nine-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 appealed to parents and guardians who have lost children in recent times to visit the Command Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan, to identify the rescued children and facilitate their reunification with their families.

The commissioner said the command was working with other security and government agencies to uncover the full structure of the alleged network, locate other missing children, establish the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths and ensure that anyone found culpable is brought to justice.

Olugbenga urged members of the public to report missing children to the police without delay and cautioned parents and guardians to be wary of individuals who present themselves as traditional or spiritual healers, particularly those who seek to separate children from their families or take them to undisclosed locations.

He also appealed for credible information that could assist the investigation, assuring informants that such information would be handled professionally and, where necessary, confidentially.