Police in Ogun State have arrested a couple, Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu and Ugochukwu Mathew, for alleged child theft and rescued three children in Mowe.
The suspects were arrested by detectives attached to Mowe Division following a complaint lodged on Sunday by a resident of Omo Onile, Mowe, who alleged that her four-month-old baby was stolen at a clinic on Saturday.
According to a statement issued by the Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the female suspect allegedly visited the nursing mother at the clinic under the guise of offering assistance, took custody of the baby temporarily, and disappeared with the child.
The statement said detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Afeniforo Folake, launched intelligence-driven operations and tracked the suspects to their hideout in the Kekere Ekun area of Mowe on Monday.
It also said the stolen baby was recovered alongside two other children found in their possession.
Police further announced that preliminary investigations revealed one of the rescued children had earlier been declared missing in a 2024 child stealing case allegedly carried out using a similar deceptive method.
According to the police, the biological parents of two of the rescued children have identified their children.
The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for further investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Ogun State Command, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended officers of Mowe Division for their swift response and professionalism, reaffirming the Command’s commitment to tackling child trafficking, abduction, and other violent crimes.
