The Ogun State Police Command has apprehended a child-stealing syndicate, Ugochukwu Mathew and his wife, Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu, and rescued three stolen children in the Mowe area of Ogun State.
Arrest and Rescue Operation
The suspects were arrested following a complaint lodged at the Mowe Division on 17 May 2026 at about 10:00 am. A resident of Omo Onile, Mowe, reported that the female suspect approached her while she was receiving medical attention at a clinic. The resident explained that on 16 May 2026, Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu visited the clinic under the guise of checking on her condition. She deceitfully collected the resident's four-month-old baby, pretending to assist with care while the mother rested, and then absconded with the child.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, confirmed this in a statement in Abeokuta. He said that upon receiving the report, detectives from Mowe Division, led by CSP Folake Afeniforo, immediately mobilized. Motor parks and strategic locations within the area were placed under surveillance, and intelligence-led operations were intensified.
"Acting on credible intelligence, detectives tracked the suspects to their hideout at Kekere Ekun area of Mowe on 18 May 2026 at about 7:55 pm. There, the stolen child was rescued alongside two other children found in their possession. The husband and wife suspects were promptly arrested and taken into custody," the Police PRO stated.
Investigation and Identification
Preliminary investigation revealed that one of the children found with the suspects had earlier been declared missing in a 2024 child-stealing case. That child was taken from a hairdressing salon using the same deceptive method of pretending to offer assistance. Babaseyi said the biological parents of two of the rescued children have been contacted and have positively identified their wards.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for discreet investigation.
Police Commissioner's Response
The Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended the swift response, professionalism, and commitment of the officers and men of Mowe Division, whose proactive efforts led to the arrest of the suspects and rescue of the children. The CP reiterated the Command's resolve to sustain the fight against child trafficking, abduction, and other violent crimes across the state.
He urged members of the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements or criminal activities through the Ogun State Police Command emergency lines: Gateway Shield (Toll-Free): 0800 000 9111; Emergency Lines: 0906 283 7609, 0912 014 1706, 0915 102 7369, 0708 497 2994.
