[REVISION HISTORY]

Child trafficking syndicates in Nigeria

Updated 3 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-09 14:27 UTC → 2026-09-12 05:06 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Police operations in Nigeria have uncovered criminal syndicates involved in human trafficking and the illegal sale of children. In late August 2026, the Ogun State Police Command dismantled a ‘baby factory’ syndicate in Mowe. The intelligence-led raid on a facility in Abaren Village resulted in the arrest of six suspects, including a nurse, and the rescue of two pregnant women and four children. Investigations also identified a missing newborn from a local hospital. By early September 2026, the Oyo State Police Command dismantled a larger interstate syndicate operating across Oyo, Ogun, and Delta States. This operation rescued 17 children and led to the arrest of seven suspects. Authorities confirmed that six abducted children died while in the syndicate’s custody, with allegations that their bodies were sometimes transferred for ritual activities. The investigation expanded from a petition filed on July 29, 2026, regarding cyberbullying and defamation into a broader probe of a network that stole and sold children from public venues. A key suspect, Adejoke Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, allegedly confessed to involvement in a network active since October 2024. Popoola admitted to selling her own newborn and a set of twins to a clinic in Ogeere for 300,000 Naira. She further described tactics for stealing children, such as posing as a house renter or a spiritualist targeting parents of children with disabilities. In mid-September 2026, the Ogun State Police Command rescued three children, including a 14-year-old girl, from a suspected child-stealing gang in the Ibafo area. Three women—Kikelomo Jimoh, Kayode Elizabeth, and Blessing Anochike—were arrested. Preliminary findings suggest one child was sold for 500,000 Naira. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Abeokuta.

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