Juliet Oladele, Reporting
IBADAN — A suspected member of a child-stealing and trafficking syndicate has made a chilling confession, admitting to selling two sets of her own children and stealing at least 19 others across multiple states.
Adejoke Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, spoke to journalists on Monday at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters in Ibadan, where she detailed her involvement in what authorities have described as a sophisticated trafficking network operating across state lines.
“God blessed me with the gift of pregnancy. Anytime a man has sex with me twice, I get pregnant, and it is always difficult to abort,” Popoola said, attempting to explain her actions.
The suspect claimed she had sold a newborn baby and a set of twins, with the twins sold to a clinic in Ogeere for N300,000.
“I have sold two sets of children, a newborn boy and twins as well, last year. I sold the twins to… clinic; she also resells them to her customers in Lagos. She has a baby industry. When the owner of the pregnancy rejects the pregnancy, that is when I sell. Sometimes I get N80,000 or N120,000 for each child I sell,” she stated.
Despite her alleged involvement in child trafficking, Popoola revealed she has seven biological children of her own, ranging in age from six to 34 years. “Some are married,” she added.
‘I Disguise Myself as a Spiritualist’
The suspect provided a disturbing account of her methods, explaining how she would pose as a potential tenant to gain access to homes before snatching children.
“I steal babies. I will go to their place and say I want to rent a house. Then, if I do not see anyone, if I see their children, I will just steal their children,” she confessed.
Popoola also claimed to have posed as a spiritualist, specifically targeting parents with children living with disabilities.
“Sometimes, I disguise myself as a spiritualist. Parents bring their disabled children to me because they cannot talk, sit, or walk. So, I will promise them that I can help them to heal, then I will go and pick another person’s child for them,” she said.
She told investigators that a woman she worked with at Ogeere Market had taught her how to steal children.
Festival Kidnapping Detailed
In one particularly brazen incident, Popoola described how she allegedly stole a three-year-old boy, Ifakunle Ifagbenro, during an Egungun festival in Oyo Town.
“I went to an Egungun festival to steal a child, Ifakunle. I woke up early and asked a bike man to drive me to the place where they were holding the Egungun festival, so he drove me to the house,” she recounted.
“When I entered the house, they were praying, so I joined them and I even gave them money for the prayer. When the Egungun left, the boy told his mother that he did not want to stay at home and wanted to join the procession. So, I volunteered to help hold the boy.”
“I joined them for the procession and, in the evening, I picked up the boy, laid him on my back and ran away with him,” she confessed.
Six Children Dead, 13 Rescued
Popoola claimed that six children had died out of the 19 she had allegedly kidnapped. “About six children died from the 19 children I have kidnapped, but 13 are alive,” she said.
Her confession came as the Oyo State Police Command announced a major breakthrough in dismantling the suspected child-stealing and trafficking syndicate, with 17 children rescued and seven suspects arrested.
Commissioner of Police Abimbola Olugbenga disclosed at a press briefing that the investigation began with a petition submitted by Popoola herself on 29th July.
However, detectives became aware of her alleged involvement following the disappearance of young Ifakunle during the Egungun festival on 29th June.
Photographs and video recordings from the event reportedly showed Popoola carrying the child, establishing that she was with him around the time of his disappearance. She was arrested on 4th August.
Wider Network Uncovered
The investigation exposed a wider criminal network allegedly involved in the stealing, movement, sale and concealment of children across state lines. Suspects allegedly disclosed that when a child died in their custody, the body would be sold to suspected ritualists.
Popoola identified Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, as her alleged partner. Janet was traced to Mowe, Ogun State, where police allegedly rescued four children aged between two and four, as well as two pregnant young women from her custody.
Detectives later travelled to Agbor, Delta State, on 2nd September, where four children allegedly stolen from Oyo State were rescued from persons suspected to have bought them. Two suspects, Christopher Joy, 48, and Rosemary Jesse, 53, were arrested in connection with the operation.
The police said they had also arrested Muritala Fasasi, an Alfa, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist, in connection with alleged ritual activities.
Children Who Died Identified
The six children who reportedly died while in the custody of their alleged abductors were identified as:
· Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, aged two
· Greatness Adeagbo, aged five
· Sainat Amoo, aged two
· Taiwo Usman, aged two
· Daniel Solomon Olayinka, aged seven
· Miracle Olaniyi, aged four
Commissioner Olugbenga urged parents and guardians who have lost children in recent times to visit the command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, to identify the rescued children and facilitate their reunification with their families.
