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Six Abducted Children Die In Captivity, 17 Rescued As Police Parade Suspects In Oyo
Police say the suspects moved children across state lines and link the network to deaths and ritual sales of bodies.
On Monday, the Oyo State Police Command announced the rescue of 17 children and arrest of seven suspects involved in an interstate human-trafficking network operating across Nigeria.
The investigation began following a July 29, 2026 petition regarding the disappearance of three-year-old Ifakunle Ifagbenro during a June masquerade festival in Oyo Town, leading detectives to Adejoke Popoola.
Detectives uncovered an alleged ritual dimension where syndicate members, including Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, stole children aged two to seven from public venues; some were reportedly sold for ritual purposes after dying in custody.
The command appealed to parents who lost children recently to visit the Police State Headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to identify victims, while confirming six abducted children died in captivity.
Authorities continue collaborating with security agencies to dismantle the criminal network, with the investigation now extending into Ogun State and Delta State; detectives travelled to Agbor on September 2 and rescued four additional children.