METRO NEWS: ONDO POLICE ARREST WOMAN WITH 10 STOLEN CHILDREN, REVEALS SHE SOLD EACH FOR ₦1 MILLION

... Full List of Recovered Children Released for Parents to Claim

The Ondo State Police Command has apprehended three members of a syndicate specializing in child stealing and trafficking.

The Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, Mr. Olutokunbo Afolabi, revealed that the suspects were tracked down and arrested through intelligence-led policing in Ottah Village, Edo State, and Ihiala, Anambra State.

The suspects were identified as Lukman Isiaka, Abosede Olanipekun, and the syndicate leader, 62-year-old Sabira Izuorah, who was caught in possession of stolen children in Anambra State.

Mr. Afolabi disclosed that Sabira purchased the children from Lukman and Abosede for ₦500,000 each and sold them to buyers for ₦1,000,000 per child.

The Police Commissioner confirmed that several children remain on the missing list, and efforts are underway to locate and rescue them. He assured that the suspects will face charges in court once investigations are concluded.

DETAILS OF THE CRIME

The case began when a child was reported missing at the Okuta Elerin-Nla Division in Akure. According to the complainant, a man identified as Samuel Adejobi (later confirmed as Lukman Isiaka, 42) and a woman, Ewatomi (real name: Abosede Olanipekun), visited her shop pretending to be siblings.

While playing with the complainant’s child, Abosede claimed she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby. Simultaneously, Lukman distracted the complainant by engaging her in conversation and convincing her to accompany him to Olukayode Plaza to purchase a mobile phone. Once at the plaza, Lukman abandoned her. Upon returning to her shop, the complainant discovered her child was missing, along with Abosede.

A report was immediately filed, and the suspects were traced to Ottah Village in Edo State, where they were apprehended.

CONFESSIONS AND ARRESTS

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to abducting children from Ondo and Osun States and selling them to Sabira Izuorah in Ihiala, Anambra State, for ₦1,000,000 per child. Sabira was subsequently arrested, and the following babies were found in her custody:

1. Baby Favour (female, 3 weeks old)

2. Baby Chidera (female, 2 weeks old)

3. Baby Chinyere (female, 2 months, 5 days old)

4. Baby Uzoma (male, 1 week old)

On January 14, 2025, ten more children sold by Mrs. Izuorah were rescued from various locations and identified by their parents as follows:

1. Dauda Alarape (male, 3½ years)

2. Babalola David (male, 4 years)

3. Asaolu Pamilerin (7 years)

4. Ayomide Abass (male, 2 years, stolen from Orita-Obele, Akure)

5. Komolafe Oluwasekemi (female, 4 years, stolen from Igado, Ilesha)

6. Adedeji Olalekan (male, 6½ years)

7. Ahmed Abdulrasaq (male, 5½ years, stolen from Ibodi Town, Osun State)

8. Mary Wuraola (female, 2 years, stolen from Ilesha, Osun State)

9. Mubarak Akinwunmi (male, 6 years, stolen from Osogbo, Osun State)

10. Unknown child (name and parents yet to be identified, stolen from Osun State).

ONGOING INVESTIGATION

Efforts are ongoing to locate other missing children. The police have assured the public that the suspects will be prosecuted, and the recovered children have been placed in protective custody while awaiting reunification with their families.