The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a child trafficking syndicate and rescued 14 children, including four infants. The suspects, Lukman Isiaka, 42; Abosede Olanipekun; and Sabira Izuorah, 62, were apprehended after a thorough investigation.
State Commissioner of Police Wilfred Afolabi explained that Lukman Isiaka and Abosede Olanipekun were arrested for allegedly kidnapping an 18-month-old baby boy from his mother and selling him.
“A case of a missing child was reported at Okuta Elerin-Nla Division in Akure. A complainant reported that a man, Samuel Adejobi (real name: Lukman Isiaka, male, 42 years), and a woman, Ewatomi (real name: Abosede Olanipekun), came to her shop, pretending to be siblings, to eat,” Afolabi said.
Isiaka had shown interest in dating the victim’s mother and lured her to a plaza under the pretext of buying her a phone. Upon arriving at the plaza, he disappeared, leaving her alone. “During interrogation, the suspects admitted to abducting the child and other children from Ondo and Osun States and selling them to Sabira Izuorah ‘f’ age 62 years in Ihiala, Anambra State, at the rate ₦1million per child,” Afolabi stated.
Rescue Efforts and Reunion
The police subsequently arrested Sabira Izuorah in Ihiala in Anambra State and found 14 babies in her custody. “Baby Favour (female, 3 weeks old); Baby Chidera (female, 2 weeks old); Baby Chinyere (female, 2 months and 5 days old); Baby Uzoma (male, 1 week old),” Afolabi listed.
Ten children sold by Mrs. Izuorah were rescued from various locations and have been identified by their parents. “Dauda Alarape (male, 3½ years); Babalola David (male, 4 years); Asaolu Pamilerin (7 years); Ayomide Abass (male, 2 years, stolen from Orita-Obele, Akure); Komolafe Oluwasekemi (female, 4 years, stolen from Igado, Ilesha),” Afolabi said.
Some parents who identified their recovered children broke down in tears of joy. Mrs. Babalola Salome, a hairdresser, recognized her son, David Babalola, who was abducted on June 12, 2023.
“They’ve changed his name from David to Chijoke. But I give thanks to God. He was two and half years when he was abducted but he’s over five years now. He didn’t really recognize me again. But you know, I recognized him immediately I set my eyes on him,” Mrs Babalola said.
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