Six underage children abducted by a suspected child-stealing and human trafficking syndicate have been confirmed dead in captivity, the Oyo State Police Command has disclosed.
The command also announced the rescue of 17 children and the arrest of seven suspects following an intelligence-led investigation into a criminal network allegedly involved in the stealing, trafficking and concealment of children across state lines.
The Oyo State Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, disclosed this on Monday at a press briefing held at the Police Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan.
He said, “The investigation began with a petition dated July 29, 2026, submitted by Adejoke Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, of Sogade Area, Ariyo, Ibadan, over allegations bordering on conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to life and defamation of character. The petition was subsequently assigned to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad on August 3.
“While detectives were examining the circumstances surrounding the petition, their attention was drawn to the disappearance of a three-year-old boy, Ifakunle Ifagbenro, during an annual masquerade festival in Oyo Town on June 29. The child had accompanied his father to his grandfather’s family compound for the festival, while Popoola had arrived two days earlier to participate in preparations for the event.”
