Shock in Oyo as Suspect Admits Selling Her Own Children, Six of 19 Stolen Children Died
A suspected member of a child stealing and trafficking syndicate in Oyo State has allegedly confessed to taking 19 children, six of whom died in the hands of the traffickers.
Adejoke Popoola, the suspect, told journalists at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters in Ibadan that she had been involved in the alleged activities since October 2024. She claimed she stole children from homes, churches, parties and other public gatherings before they were allegedly sold.
Popoola also confessed to selling two sets of children she had given birth to, one a newborn boy and the other twins. She claimed the twins were sold to a clinic in Ogeere for N300,000.
She allegedly explained how she stole three-year-old Ifakunle Ifagbenro during an Egungun festival in Oyo Town on June 29. Her account is that she offered to walk the child in the procession before she allegedly walked away with the child.
Later, police said their investigation resulted in the arrest of other suspects and the rescue of children who were said to have been kidnapped from Oyo State. A suspected associate, Adekanbi Janet, was tracked to Mowe, Ogun State where four children aged between two and four were said to have been found.
The police also reported that four children who were allegedly kidnapped from Oyo were found in Agbor, Delta State on September 2.
So far, 17 children have been rescued and six children are said to have died in captivity, the command said. The killings could also have led to the discovery of a larger criminal network of selling dead children to suspected ritualists, police said.
Authorities have advised parents and guardians of missing children to visit the Oyo State Police Command for identification and possible reuniting with their children.
