{
  "id": 6262095,
  "title": "How I sold my own babies, stole 19 children, Oyo trafficking suspect confesses",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/how-i-sold-my-own-babies-stole-19-children-oyo-trafficking-suspect",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-08T09:58:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/how-i-sold-my-own-babies-stole-19-children-oyo-trafficking-suspect-confesses/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Adejoke Popoola, a suspected member of a child-stealing and trafficking syndicate, has confessed to selling her own children and stealing others for resale in Oyo State, Nigeria. Popoola revealed that she had been involved in these activities since October 2024 and had sold two sets of children, including a newborn baby and twin boys. One set of twins was sold to a clinic in Ogeere for N300,000, while she reportedly resold them to customers in Lagos for N80,000 or N120,000 each. Popoola had seven children of her own, with ages ranging from 6 to 34 years. She also admitted to stealing children by posing as someone seeking to rent a house or disguising herself as a spiritualist, targeting parents with children living with disabilities. During an Egungun festival in Oyo Town, Popoola allegedly stole a three-year-old boy named Ifakunle Ifagbenro, helping him join the procession and then taking him away in a bike. Six of the 19 children she kidnapped reportedly died, leaving a total of 13 children alive. Police uncovered the child-stealing syndicate, rescuing 17 children and arresting seven suspects, including Popoola, in connection with the investigation.",
  "summary": "An Oyo child trafficking suspect, Adejoke Popoola, confesses to selling her own babies and stealing 19 children, detailing her methods and syndicate operat Read More: https://punchng.com/how-i-sold-my-own-babies-stole-19-children-oyo-trafficking-suspect-confesses/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": "The suspect's confession reveals a pattern of exploitation that preys on vulnerable parents and targets children with disabilities, highlighting the need for increased vigilance and protection in communities.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "How I sold my own babies, stole 19 children, Oyo trafficking suspect confesses",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/how-i-sold-my-own-babies-stole-19-children-oyo-trafficking-suspect-6262438",
        "published": "2026-09-08T10:00:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}