By Solanke Ayomideji Taiwo
MOWE, OGUN STATE — A suspected child-stealing syndicate operating in Mowe, Ogun State, has been dismantled by operatives of the Ogun State Police Command following the arrest of a husband and wife allegedly linked to the abduction of children using deceptive tactics.
The operation, carried out by detectives attached to the Mowe Division under the leadership of the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Afeniforo Folake, led to the arrest of Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu and her husband, Ugochukwu Mathew, as well as the rescue of three children believed to have been stolen.
Police authorities disclosed that the breakthrough followed a distress complaint lodged at the Mowe Divisional Headquarters on May 17, 2026, by a resident of Omo Onile area of Mowe, whose four-month-old baby had allegedly been taken by the female suspect under false pretences.
According to police findings, the mother had visited a clinic in Mowe on May 16 to receive medical attention when the suspect allegedly approached her under the guise of showing concern for her wellbeing. Taking advantage of the mother's condition, the woman reportedly offered to assist in caring for the infant while she rested.
However, what initially appeared to be an act of kindness allegedly turned into a calculated act of child theft, as the suspect disappeared with the baby and failed to return.
The incident immediately triggered a swift response from detectives at the Mowe Division. Security surveillance was intensified across key locations and transport routes within the area, while intelligence officers launched a targeted operation to track the suspects.
Police said their efforts paid off on the evening of May 18 at about 7:55 p.m., when detectives, acting on credible intelligence, traced the suspects to their hideout at the Kekere Ekun area of Mowe.
During the raid, officers successfully rescued the missing four-month-old child. In a shocking development, two additional children were also found in the suspects' custody.
Investigators later uncovered what appeared to be a disturbing pattern in the operation of the suspected syndicate. Preliminary findings revealed that one of the rescued children had been declared missing since 2024 in an earlier child theft case.
Police sources said the child had reportedly been taken from a hairdressing salon using a similar strategy in which the suspect allegedly pretended to offer help before disappearing with the victim.
Authorities confirmed that the biological parents of two of the rescued children had already been contacted and had positively identified their children.
The discovery has raised concerns that the suspects may have been involved in a broader and more organized child-trafficking operation spanning several years.
Following the arrest, the case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for a more detailed and discreet investigation aimed at uncovering possible accomplices and establishing the full scope of the alleged criminal network.
Commending the officers involved in the operation, the Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, praised the professionalism, swift action, and dedication of personnel of the Mowe Division.
He reaffirmed the Command's commitment to combating child trafficking, abduction, and other violent crimes across the state.
The police chief also urged members of the public to remain alert and report suspicious persons, unusual movements, or criminal activities to law enforcement agencies promptly.
The latest development has once again highlighted growing concerns over child theft and trafficking, while underscoring the critical role of public vigilance and rapid police intervention in preventing such crimes.
Investigations into the case are ongoing.
#amebonewshub
