The Ogun State Police Command received a confession from Tayo Adeleke, a suspected kidnapper and child trafficker, detailing how he and other members of his gang had been abducting children to sell in the adjacent Benin Republic.
Adeleke is reportedly being questioned by police on an alleged effort he made on Tuesday to steal children at the Omu Pempe community in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, along with two other males who are now at large.
It was learned that the suspects had broken into the Omu Pempe Baptist Church at around two in the morning on a motorbike.
They were taking children from the church and selling them in the Republic of Benin, it was discovered.
But a So-Safe Corps operator had received a distress call, which she reported to the local Divisional Police Officer.
According to a source, “the three men could not give any cogent explanation as they attempted to flee when they were challenged about their mission in the village.”
Omolola Odutola, a spokesman for the Ogun State police, confirmed the event to It was revealed that, despite his comrades’ attempts to flee via the jungle, Adeleke, a 25-year-old male, was captured by the police, the So-Safe Corps, and other vigilante groups in the mentioned community.
Odutola said that during questioning, the suspect admitted that “they came to the community to kidnap children.” He said that a network was involved in the kidnapping and sale of children to the Republic of Benin. One has been taken into custody, and he will assist in apprehending the others.
According to Odutola, who spoke with our correspondent, kidnappers have noticed that the command now controls the Ogun roads and are attempting to operate inside communities.
“The current trend these days is kidnapping people inside communities. In Ogun, we now control the highways. Now, police officers will be seen on the roads. However, the kidnappers have entered the inner villages and are causing them discomfort. We are going back to the drawing board, but we will get them. There is no place for criminals in this state.
Therefore, we are urging the State’s traditional rulers and community leaders to set up internal security measures, such as blocking off entry and exit points, and to provide security personnel with the knowledge they need to help protect people and property. Villagers should assist the police since they are adept at recognising strangers in their neighbourhoods. Thankfully, this attempt was thwarted.
Odutola stated, “The Ogun State Command, led by Commissioner of Police CP Abiodun Alamutu, would not give up until criminals are eliminated from Ogun, wherever they may be.
