Operatives of the Ogun State Police Command have arrested a husband and wife over alleged child stealing in the Mowe area of the state and rescued three children from the suspects.
The command’s spokesperson, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.
According to the statement, the suspects were identified as Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu and her husband, Ugochukwu Mathew.
Babaseyi explained that the arrest followed a complaint lodged at the Mowe Division on May 17 by a resident of Omo Onile area, who alleged that her four-month-old baby was stolen while she was receiving treatment at a clinic in Mowe.
The police said the female suspect allegedly visited the nursing mother under the guise of assisting her and deceitfully collected the baby while the woman rested before disappearing with the child.
“Upon receiving the report, detectives were immediately mobilised while surveillance was mounted at motor parks and other strategic locations within the area,” the statement read.
The police spokesperson said intelligence-led operations later led detectives to the suspects’ hideout in the Kekere Ekun area of Mowe on May 18 at about 7:55 p.m.
He added that the stolen baby was rescued during the operation alongside two other children found in the suspects’ custody.
The statement further revealed that preliminary investigations showed one of the rescued children had earlier been declared missing in a 2024 child-stealing incident.
According to the police, the child was allegedly taken from a hairdressing salon using a similar deceptive method in which the suspect pretended to offer assistance before absconding with the victim.
Babaseyi stated that the biological parents of two of the rescued children had already identified their wards.
He added that the matter had been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further investigation.
The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Bode Ojajuni, commended officers of the Mowe Division for their swift response and professionalism, noting that their efforts led to the rescue of the children and arrest of the suspects.
Ojajuni reiterated the command’s determination to intensify the fight against child trafficking, abduction, and other violent crimes across the state.
The police also urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.