A suspected kidnapper and child trafficker, Tayo Adeleke, has confessed to the Ogun State Police Command about his involvement in a child kidnapping ring operating in Ogun State, News About Nigeria reports.
According to his confessed statement, they sell the abducted children in neighbouring Benin Republic.
The suspect is currently in police custody and is undergoing interrogation for his alleged role in an attempted child abduction alongside two other accomplices, who managed to escape.
The incident occurred at Omu Pempe community in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State on Tuesday.
Reports indicate that the suspects targeted a Baptist church in Omu Pempe, arriving around 2 am with a motorcycle, with the aim of stealing children from the church premises for illicit sale in Benin Republic.
However, an alert So-Safe Corps operative received a distress call, promptly informing the Divisional Police Officer in the area.
When questioned about their mission in the village, the suspects failed to provide a reasonable explanation and attempted to flee, leading to the arrest of Adeleke, while the others escaped through the bush.
Omolola Odutola, the Ogun State police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and shared that the 25-year-old suspect, Tayo Adeleke, admitted during interrogation that they had been involved in a syndicate kidnapping children and selling them across the border in Benin Republic.
She said, “We have arrested one, and he would help in bringing others to book.”
Odutola further explained that kidnappers are now resorting to operating within communities as the police have intensified efforts on highways.
She urged community leaders and traditional rulers to establish internal security measures and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to prevent criminal activities within their areas.
