Ogun Police Bust Child Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue Three Abducted Children in Mowe
Ogun Police Bust Child Trafficking Syndicate, Rescue Three Abducted Children in Mowe
The Ogun State Police Command has dismantled a suspected child-stealing syndicate operating in Mowe, leading to the arrest of a husband and wife accused of abducting children through deception.
The suspects, identified as Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu and her husband, Ugochukwu Mathew, were apprehended by detectives attached to the Mowe Division following an intelligence-led operation that also resulted in the rescue of three stolen children.
According to the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the operation was carried out under the leadership of the Divisional Police Officer of Mowe Division, CSP Afeniforo Folake.
Police said the arrest followed a complaint lodged on May 17, 2026, by a resident of Omo Onile area in Mowe, who reported that her four-month-old baby was stolen while she was receiving treatment at a clinic.
Investigators revealed that the female suspect allegedly visited the clinic pretending to care for the nursing mother. She reportedly convinced the woman to hand over the baby temporarily while she rested before disappearing with the child.
Following the report, detectives immediately launched a coordinated search operation across motor parks and strategic locations within Mowe and adjoining communities.
Acting on credible intelligence, police operatives tracked the suspects to their hideout in the Kekere Ekun area of Mowe on May 18, 2026, where the stolen infant was recovered alongside two other children found in their custody.
Authorities disclosed that preliminary investigations linked one of the rescued children to a child abduction case reported in 2024. The child was allegedly stolen from a hairdressing salon using a similar deceptive method.
Police confirmed that the biological parents of two of the rescued children have already identified and reunited with their children.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation and possible prosecution.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, CP Bode Ojajuni, praised officers of the Mowe Division for their swift response, professionalism and commitment in combating child trafficking and abduction across the state.
He also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities or movements to security agencies through the command’s emergency lines.
