{
  "id": 6158630,
  "title": "Oyo police rescue 17 children, bust interstate child-stealing ring",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/07/oyo-police-rescue-17-children-bust-interstate-child-stealing-ring",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-07T18:24:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Post Nigeria",
    "slug": "daily-post-nigeria",
    "url": "https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/07/oyo-police-rescue-17-children-bust-interstate-child-stealing-ring/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Oyo State Police Command has rescued 17 children and apprehended seven individuals linked to an alleged interstate child-stealing and human-trafficking ring operating across Nigeria. Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, revealed these details at a press conference on Monday at the Police Headquarters in Ibadan. The probe commenced after a petition was filed on July 29, 2026, which was subsequently handed over to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad on August 3. During the inquiry, detectives traced the disappearance of a three-year-old boy, Ifakunle Ifagbenro, from an annual masquerade festival in Oyo Town on June 29. Popoola, a suspect, was arrested on August 4 after being identified through video footage and other evidence obtained from the event. Popoola admitted to being involved in the theft of more than 15 children, aged between two and seven, from churches, parties, and other public venues across Oyo State and beyond. The police found Adekanbi Janet, known as Hosanna, in Mowe, Ogun State, along with four children aged between two and four. Two young women were also apprehended at the same location. The investigation led to the rescue of Ifakunle in Ibadan's Gbagi area on August 20. The operation also extended to Delta State, where detectives arrested Christopher Joy, 48, and Rosemary Jesse, 53, in connection with the children's abduction. Olugbenga stressed that the criminal network extended beyond Oyo State, with children reportedly transported to other parts of the country for nefarious purposes. The police discovered that some children had died while in the custody of the alleged traffickers, who allegedly sold their bodies to ritualists. Seven children reportedly perished in these circumstances. The Oyo police called upon parents and guardians to report missing children to the police immediately to aid in the safe recovery of the rescued children.",
  "summary": "The Oyo State Police Command has rescued 17 children and arrested seven suspects over an alleged interstate child-stealing and human-trafficking network operating across parts of Nigeria. The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing at the Police State Headquarters, Eleyele, Ibadan. Olugbenga said the investigation began…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}