One will always question if some members of our society’s criminal community always think about the repercussions of their horrible deeds before committing them.
Certain crimes, such as armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom, money laundering, and murder, were traditionally associated with men. However, in recent times, some avaricious women have disproved this notion by becoming deeply involved in crimes related to child molestation, child trafficking, and child theft in exchange for money and ritual purposes. This is concerning because more women who endured the hardships of child labour to become mothers are now deeply involved in these crimes. It’s concerning.
According to Sunday Independent, the Oyo State Police Command’s recent success in rescuing at least seventeen (17) young children from their kidnappers’ nest throughout the nation revealed how deadly and vicious some mothers can be while pursuing financial gain.
The most intriguing aspect of the entire narrative that resulted in the rescue of the young victims and the apprehension of the suspected child-stealing syndicate is that one of the suspects, Adejoke Popoola, also known as “Orente Alagbo,” went to the police station to file a complaint regarding alleged conspiracy, cyberbullying, threats to her life, and defamation of her character. Little did she know that she would later help the police apprehend her fellow gang members in their operating zones across the nation.
According to her admissions, “Orente Alagbo,” who had been in the business for more than ten years, specialised in going to churches, mosques, traditional festivals, and even “Owambe” celebrations in order to kidnap defenceless youngsters from their parents.
She has no restrictions because her list of procedures includes youngsters as young as two or three years old, as well as children who are teenagers.
Later, Adejoke Orente Alagbo led the Oyo State Police Commission’s anti-kidnapping section personnel to the distant town of Agbor in Delta State, where her business partners, 53-year-old Rosemary Jesse and 48-year-old Christopher Joy, were detained in relation to the occurrence.
On July 29, 2026, a woman entered the Oyo State Police Command to file a petition alleging conspiracy, cyberbullying, threat to life, and defamation of character. Three weeks later, the same petition created what authorities now characterise as a cross-state network of child trafficking and theft.
Adejoke Popoo—also referred to as “Orente Alagbo”—was the petitioner. Investigators looking over her complaint found a more ominous trail: on June 29, 2026, a 3-year-old kid named Ifakunle Ifagbenro vanished at a masquerade event in Oyo Town.
By September 2, the Anti-Kidnapping Squad had located the network from Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, to Mowe in Ogun State and Agbor in Delta State. They had also detained seven individuals and saved seventeen minors.
Ifakunle had accompanied his father to an annual masquerade celebration in his maternal grandfather’s Oyo Town compound, according to Police Commissioner CP Abimbola Ayodeji Olugbenga.
Orente Alagbo arrived two days prior to the event to assist with preparations, CP Olugbenga said reporters at the Command headquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan. She was seen carrying the boy in photos and videos from the occasion.
Adejoke and the child vanished from the location shortly after. The incident was thereafter reported to the Atiba Police Divisional Headquarters in Oyo Town, according to the CP.
Orente Alagbo was taken into custody on August 4, 2026, at 2:30 p.m., after detectives followed the digital trail and questioned those seen in the video.
She allegedly acknowledged kidnapping the child in her statement and acknowledged working in the “business” for more than ten years.
According to the police, Orente specialised in picking up unsuspecting children by going to churches, mosques, traditional festivals, and owambe gatherings. She admitted that the victims on her list included both infants and teens between the ages of two and seven.
According to reports, she identified her boyfriend as Adekanbi Janet, also referred to as Hosanna.
After locating Adekanbi in Mowe, Ogun State, detectives saved four children, ages two to four. She was also found to be in charge of two young women who were pregnant.
Although Adekanbi denied having custody of Ifakunle, he allegedly acknowledged knowing Orente for ten years and acknowledged being involved in the theft and sale of children.
According to CP Olugbenga, additional interrogation uncovered a pattern: stolen children were held until they were sold. It is said that young women who were pregnant were detained until they gave birth, at which point the infants were removed and sold to ritualists.
On August 20, 2026, Ifakunle was saved in the Gbagi neighbourhood of Ibadan.
The State Police Commissioner stated that the case took an interstate turn on September 2, 2026, when detectives flew to Agbor, Delta State, while discussing the interstate connection and the ritual aspect of the development. There, police detained two buyers, 53-year-old Rosemary Jesse and 48-year-old Christopher Joy, and rescued four additional children who were allegedly taken from Oyo. The CP claimed that both admitted to being involved in the network.
Then the most sinister accusation was made. Some children died while in prison, according to police, and their bones were allegedly sold to ritualists.
Yakubu Azeez, a herbalist, and Islamic cleric Muritala Fasasi were arrested as a result. Both allegedly admitted to utilising human remains for ritual purposes, according to the CP.
Ifakunle Ifagbenro, 3; Musibau Olasupo, 5; Sulaimon Osamo, 7; Murina Fidaus, 3; Aminat Yusuf, 3; Taiwo Olamilekan, 3; a 9-day-old male infant; Rafiat Waheed Babalola, 2; Quwiyat Alade, 5; Rejoice Divine, 3; Alhaji Divine, 5; Eniolorunda, 3; Victoria, 3; Isoma Prince, 3; Roqeeba, 4; and Ireoluwa Elizabeth Olapade, 7.
The six other children who passed away while in detention were identified by the police chief as follows: Musharaf Lawal Tajudeen, 2; Greatness Adeagbo, 5; Sainat Amoo, 2; Taiwo Usman, 2; Daniel Solomon Olayinka, 7; and Miracle Olaniyi, 4.
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