The Ondo State Police Command has arrested a couple, Lukman Isiaka, 42, and his wife, Abosede Olanipekun, 23, for allegedly abducting children across Ondo and Osun states. The couple is accused of abducting several children and selling them for ₦1 million each to a 62-year-old woman, Sabina Izuorah, a resident of Ihiala in Anambra State.
The police have successfully rescued 10 children, but some distraught parents have gathered at the police headquarters, expressing concern over their missing children. Investigations suggest that the couple may have previously been involved in similar crimes in Edo State before expanding their operations to Ondo and Osun.
Among the recovered children were four infants aged between one and six weeks, whose parents have yet to be identified. The children were reportedly sold to Izuorah, who had altered their names and taught them to speak the Igbo dialect, making it difficult for them to recognize their real parents. Many of the children had been stolen in 2022.
The investigation began after the couple allegedly abducted a child under the pretense of marriage. Isiaka, who had been posing as Samuel Adejobi, convinced the child’s mother to allow him to take care of her child while he went to buy her a phone. Isiaka and his wife then disappeared with the child, prompting the mother to raise the alarm.
Police quickly traced the couple to their residence in Edo State, where they were arrested. The authorities have vowed to continue the investigation to identify other victims and ensure the perpetrators face justice.
