In a groundbreaking operation, the Ondo State Police have uncovered a criminal syndicate involved in child trafficking, rescuing 14 stolen babies and toddlers from an illegal orphanage in Ihiala, Anambra State. The suspects, a couple identified as Lukman Isiaka and Abosede Olanipekun, along with an accomplice, 68-year-old Sabira Izuorah, were arrested after months of painstaking investigation.
The horrifying details emerged when the suspects, who had been trafficking children between Ondo, Osun, and Anambra States, led the police to Izuorah’s home in Anambra, where the babies had been kept. Among the children were infants as young as two weeks old, with the victims ranging from three weeks to two months in age.
The arrest was made possible through coordinated efforts by the Ondo State Police Command, which, acting on intelligence, traced the suspects’ activities across state lines. The situation came to light when police discovered that the syndicate had been operating since 2023, exploiting vulnerable children for monetary gain.
Anambra Orphanage: A Front for Child Trafficking
Sabira Izuorah, a former director from the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in Anambra State, operated an ‘orphanage’ under the guise of providing shelter to orphaned children. In reality, Izuorah was involved in a sinister scheme to traffic stolen children, acting as a central figure in a vast network of child abductors and illegal adoptive parents.
During her interrogation, Izuorah admitted to accepting children from the couple, Lukman and Abosede, who would bring the babies to her home in Ihiala. She explained, “Lukman and his wife brought a total of 11 children to me. I don’t pay them; it is the adoptive parents that pay them. The adoptive parents don’t pay me; they give us food items and supplies.”
Izuorah also revealed that she had halted receiving children from the couple in November 2024, but continued to “recover” the stolen infants from their adoptive parents, suggesting the trafficking operation may have extended beyond her involvement.
Lukman’s Shocking Confession: A Life of Crime
Lukman Isiaka, 43, a bricklayer by trade, confessed that he and his wife, Abosede, had been engaged in child abduction since 2023. According to Lukman, Izuorah introduced them to the illegal business after they relocated from Ondo State to Anambra. He explained how the couple lured unsuspecting children by offering them treats such as soft drinks and biscuits before abducting them.
“We would see a child roaming and call them over, telling them we would buy soft drinks and biscuits for them,” Lukman said. “After that, we take them and deliver them to Izuorah. She pays us N500,000 for each child, and then sells them for over N1 million each. I met Izuorah when I went to Anambra to work as a bricklayer. She trained me, and since then, I have been delivering children to her.”
Lukman’s shocking confession sheds light on the elaborate methods employed by traffickers to manipulate children and their families. In return for his services, Lukman was paid a fee for each child delivered, amounting to substantial sums.
A Nationwide Scandal: The Extent of the Operation
The police operation has sent shockwaves across Nigeria, as it uncovers the deepening crisis of child trafficking in the country. The stolen children were initially abducted from Ondo and Osun States, two regions known to have high rates of child abduction cases. According to the Commissioner of Police in Ondo State, Wilfred Afolabi, the operation marked a significant breakthrough in the fight against organized crime targeting vulnerable children.
Afolabi stated, “The suspects led our operatives to Anambra State, where we discovered the children in Izuorah’s care. These children were abducted from various locations in Ondo and Osun States, and sold to Izuorah for up to N1 million per child.”
The scale of the operation is yet to be fully determined, as the authorities continue to investigate the extent of the syndicate’s activities. According to police sources, there are concerns that more victims could still be out there, with some children potentially sold to buyers in other states or regions.
A National Crisis: The Battle Against Child Trafficking
This high-profile case underscores the growing concern about child trafficking in Nigeria. With reports of child abductions on the rise, Nigerian authorities have called for stricter measures to combat the crisis. The plight of vulnerable children, often taken from their families under false pretenses, is a widespread issue that has plagued communities across the country.
Experts in child welfare have expressed outrage at the scale of the operation, emphasizing the need for greater vigilance and awareness. “These children are not just victims of trafficking; they are victims of an entire criminal network that exploits the most vulnerable in society,” said Dr. Ngozi Nwosu, a child protection advocate. “There needs to be more attention to the root causes of child trafficking, including poverty, lack of education, and weak law enforcement.”
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Police have vowed to step up their efforts to dismantle trafficking rings operating within and outside the state. Police operatives are currently working with child protection agencies and other law enforcement bodies to ensure the safe return of the recovered children to their families.
The Road Ahead: Reunification and Justice
As the authorities continue to unravel the layers of this crime syndicate, the immediate priority is to return the stolen babies to their rightful families. Many of the children, having been separated from their families for months, are being evaluated by social services to determine their mental and physical well-being. The long-term goal is to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice, while also putting in place measures to prevent future child trafficking operations.
In a country where child protection laws are often poorly enforced, this case has highlighted the critical need for stronger safeguards against child trafficking. With the involvement of international organizations, there is hope that this case will spur greater cooperation between Nigerian authorities and global bodies to combat the growing menace of child trafficking in the region.
