A suspected member of an interstate child-trafficking network, Adejoke Popoola, has admitted selling a newborn and a set of twins she gave birth to, while allegedly stealing other children for sale.
Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, made the disclosure on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan.
She said her alleged involvement began in October 2024 while she sold herbs around Ariyo Bus Stop, Olunloyo, Ibadan. She claimed she received between N80,000 and N120,000 for some children, while the twins fetched N300,000 from a clinic in Ogeere.
Popoola, who said she had seven children, also admitted allegedly stealing children from homes. She claimed she sometimes posed as a prospective tenant to gain access to houses before taking children when their parents were away.
She further alleged that she posed as a spiritualist to target families with children living with disabilities, promising to help them before allegedly supplying another child.
Her arrest followed the disappearance of three-year-old Ifakunle Ifagbenro during an Egungun festival in Oyo Town on June 29.
The Commissioner of Police, Abimbola Olugbenga, said photographs and video footage from the event showed Popoola carrying the boy, while investigation placed her with him around the time he disappeared.
Popoola was arrested on August 4 and allegedly admitted leaving the festival with Ifakunle.
Olugbenga said the investigation stemmed from a petition dated July 29, submitted by Popoola over allegations including conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to life and defamation. The matter was transferred to the Anti-Kidnapping Squad on August 3.
The police said Popoola’s statement exposed a wider network allegedly involved in stealing, moving, selling and concealing children.
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According to Olugbenga, she disclosed involvement in the theft of more than 15 children, aged two to seven, from churches, parties and other gatherings within and outside Oyo State.
She allegedly identified Adekanbi Janet, also known as Hosanna, as an accomplice. Police traced Janet to Mowe, Ogun State, where four children aged two to four and two pregnant young women were reportedly rescued.
The police said Janet provided information that helped detectives locate Ifakunle, who was rescued around Gbagi, Ibadan, on August 20.
The investigation subsequently moved to Delta State. On September 2, police rescued four children allegedly stolen from Oyo State from suspected buyers of in Agbor and arrested Christopher Joy, 48, and Rosemary Jesse, 53.
Police said the investigation also uncovered allegations that children who died in captivity were sold to suspected ritualists, leading to the arrest of Muritala Fasasi, an Alfa, and Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist.
The command said seven suspects had been arrested and 17 children rescued, while six children reportedly died in the custody of the suspected abductors.
They were identified as Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, 2; Greatness Adeagbo, 5; Sainat Amoo, 2; Taiwo Usman, 2; Daniel Solomon Olayinka, 7; and Miracle Olaniyi, 4.
Popoola separately claimed she had kidnapped 19 children, saying six died and 13 survived. The police put her disclosure at more than 15 children.
The case comes nearly a year after police in Ondo State said they uncovered a suspected baby factory in Ore in October 2025, rescuing five pregnant underage girls and a baby. The cases have not been linked.
The Oyo command urged parents and guardians whose children have recently disappeared to visit its Eleyele headquarters to identify the rescued children.
Investigation continues, and the allegations against the suspects remain unproven in court.