So-Safe rescues 3 missing siblings found sleeping at Arepo railway bridge

Three siblings went missing from their home in Ifote Village, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State. The missing children, aged 13, 8, and 6, were discovered sleeping with their belongings at the Arepo railway bridge at 1:30 am on Tuesday morning. Their father, Mr Shittu Dauda, a 45-year-old bricklayer, reported them missing to the So-Safe Corps at 9:45 pm on Monday, after they had not been found since around 3 pm. The children had informed their father that they were traveling to Arepo, where their mother lived.

Upon receiving the missing persons report, the Divisional Officer of the Onireke Division, Jinadu Okikiola, launched an immediate search across several nearby communities, extending to the Arepo railway bridge. The children were found by the team at the railway bridge and safely returned to their community around 2:30 am. Both the parents were later invited to the Onireke Division for a discussion on the incident.

According to the Divisional Officer, Dauda had informed the family that he had instructed the children to attend school for registration before leaving for work. However, the children were later found missing from home. During the interaction, it was revealed that the parents were experiencing marital disagreements, which had negatively affected their attention towards the children's well-being. The eldest child reportedly stated that she had decided independently to leave home with her younger siblings.

The Divisional Officer counseled the parents on the importance of resolving their differences and ensuring the safety of their children, warning that any future incidents could lead to legal consequences. He also emphasized the significance of residents promptly informing security agencies about underage children wandering or traveling without adult supervision. Commander Soji Ganzallo, the State Commander of So-Safe Corps, commended the officers for their prompt rescue operation.