According to Leadership News, Operatives from the Ondo State Police Command have arrested members of a child trafficking syndicate involved in the illegal sale of children. The arrested suspects include 43-year-old Lukman Isiaka, 23-year-old Abosede Olanipekun, and 68-year-old Mrs. Sabira Izuorah. According to police reports, the suspects were found in possession of 14 babies and toddlers who had been stolen from various locations in Akure, Ondo State, and Ilesa, Osun State.
The children, who ranged in age from three weeks to two months old, were recovered from Mrs. Izuorah. She is alleged to have run an orphanage in Ihiala, Anambra State, where the stolen children were brought for further trafficking. The discovery has raised serious concerns over the illegal trade of children across state lines in Nigeria.
In statements to the police, the suspects revealed that the stolen children were sold for N500,000 each, with Izuorah acting as a primary receiver of the children. Izuorah, a former Director in the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in Anambra State, reportedly paid Lukman Isiaka the agreed sum of N500,000 for each child. She then sold the children to other buyers for N1 million or more.
Isiaka admitted to his role in the syndicate, claiming he had been involved in child theft since 2023. He stated that he had delivered a total of 11 children to Izuorah during this period. Olanipekun, another member of the group, has not provided further details about her involvement in the operation, but the police have placed her in custody for questioning.
The police operation has exposed the scale of the trafficking network, which spans multiple states. The authorities are currently working to identify the buyers who were involved in the illegal transactions and are continuing their investigation into other potential members of the syndicate.
Lukman said, “I have been stealing children since 2023, I have given a total of 11 children to Izuorah.
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