Six children allegedly abducted by a suspected child-stealing and human trafficking syndicate have died in captivity, while 17 others have been rescued in Oyo State, the police said.

Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, disclosed the development on Monday, September 7, 2026, during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.

According to the police, seven suspects have been arrested following an intelligence-led investigation into a criminal network allegedly involved in stealing, trafficking and concealing children across state lines.

The investigation reportedly began after a petition submitted on July 29 and was subsequently transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad on August 3.

Three-year-old boy leads police to wider network

Police attention was drawn to the disappearance of three-year-old Ifakunle Ifagbenro during a masquerade festival in Oyo Town on June 29.

The child had reportedly attended the event with his father before disappearing after one of the suspects, identified as Adejoke Popoola, allegedly offered to carry him.

The police said video and photographic evidence from the festival, alongside digital trails and witness statements, linked Popoola to the child’s disappearance.

She was arrested on August 4 and allegedly admitted leaving the festival with the boy.

Police said her statement provided a breakthrough that exposed a wider network allegedly involved in stealing more than 15 children aged between two and seven from churches, parties and other gatherings.

Popoola allegedly identified Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, as an accomplice.

Four children rescued in Ogun

Adekanbi was subsequently traced to Mowe, Ogun State, where police said four children aged between two and four were rescued.

Two pregnant young women were also reportedly found at the location.

Police alleged that Adekanbi admitted knowing Popoola for about 10 years in connection with the alleged stealing and sale of children, although she denied having custody of Ifakunle.

Information obtained during the investigation reportedly led police to the location of Ifakunle, who was rescued around Gbagi in Ibadan on August 20.

Police uncover interstate trafficking network

The investigation later extended to Delta State.

According to Olugbenga, detectives travelled to Agbor on September 2, where four children allegedly stolen from Oyo State were rescued from suspected buyers.

Two suspects, identified as 48-year-old Christopher Joy and 53-year-old Rosemary Jesse, were arrested and allegedly confessed to involvement in the operation.

The police said the development confirmed that children were allegedly being moved across state borders as part of the criminal network.

Police allege ritual dimension

The investigation also uncovered what police described as an alleged ritual dimension to the syndicate’s activities.

According to the commissioner, one suspect allegedly told investigators that when a child died in custody, the body was sold to people involved in ritual activities.

Police subsequently arrested Muritala Fasasi, an Alfa, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist, who the command said confessed to alleged involvement in using the bodies for ritual purposes.

The police said six children were confirmed dead while in captivity. They were identified as Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, two; Greatness Adeagbo, five; Sainat Amoo, two; Taiwo Usman, two; Daniel Solomon Olayinka, seven; and Miracle Olaniyi, four.

17 children rescued

The 17 rescued children include Ifakunle Ifagbenro, three; Musibau Olasupo, five; Sulaimon Osamo, seven; Murina Fidaus, three; Aminat Yusuf, three; Taiwo Olamilekan, three; and a nine-day-old infant.

Others are Rafiat Waheed Babalola, two; Quwiyat Alade, five; Rejoice Divine, three; Alhaji Divine, five; Eniolorunda, three; Victoria, three; Isoma Prince, three; Roqeeba, four; Boluwatife Odedeyi, three; and Ireoluwa Elizabeth Olapade, seven.

The police appealed to parents and guardians who have lost children to visit the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to identify the rescued children and facilitate their reunification with their families.

Olugbenga said the investigation was ongoing, with police working alongside other security and government agencies to establish the full structure of the alleged network, locate additional missing children and determine the circumstances surrounding the reported deaths.

He also urged the public to report missing children immediately and warned parents to exercise caution when dealing with people who claim to be traditional or spiritual healers, particularly those who seek to separate children from their families or take them to undisclosed locations.