Maroc - VERACITY.COM.NG - A La Une - 19/Jan 13:04

Ondo Police recover 14 children from three-man child trafficking syndicate

The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a three-member syndicate accused of child abduction and trafficking. The suspects include a 62-year-old woman, Sabira Izuorah, and a couple, Isiaka Lukman (42) and Abosede Lukman (23).Commissioner of Police, Wilfred Afolabi, disclosed the arrests during a press briefing in Akure, stating that the syndicate was uncovered after a missing child was reported at the Okuta Elerin-Nla Police Division.According to Afolabi, the operation led to the recovery of 14 children—four infants aged between one week and two months, and 10 children aged between two and seven years.Sabira Izuorah, from Ihiala in Anambra State, allegedly served as the buyer, while the couple, who hail from Ibadan, Oyo State, reportedly abducted and sold the children.The police tracked the couple to Ottah Village in Edo State, where they were arrested. During questioning, the suspects admitted to kidnapping children from Ondo and Osun states and selling them to Izuorah for ₦1 million each.Izuorah was later apprehended in Ihiala, where four infants were discovered in her custody.Narrating one of the incidents, Afolabi said, “A complainant reported that a man, Samuel Adejobi (real name: Isiaka Lukman), and a woman, Ewatomi (real name: Abosede Olanipekun), came to her shop pretending to be siblings. While playing with the complainant’s child, Abosede claimed she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby.“Meanwhile, Isiaka distracted the complainant by engaging her in a conversation and convinced her to accompany him to Olukayode Plaza under the guise of purchasing a mobile phone. By the time she returned to her shop, both suspects and her child were nowhere to be found.”The police commissioner assured the public that the suspects would be charged to court after the investigation is concluded. He added that efforts are ongoing to locate other missing children linked to the case.