NEWS
Suspected Child-Trafficking Syndicate Member Reveals How She Sold Newborn and Twins, Stole 19 Children in Oyo
A suspected member of a child-stealing and trafficking syndicate, Adejoke Popoola, has reportedly given a chilling account of how she allegedly sold children she gave birth to and stole other children for onward sale.
Popoola made the revelations while speaking to journalists on Monday at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters in Ibadan, where she was presented in connection with the alleged child-trafficking activities.
According to her account, she became involved in the alleged operation in October 2024 and subsequently sold two sets of children, including a newborn boy and a set of twins.
She claimed that the twins were sold to a clinic in Ogeere for ₦300,000, alleging that the facility subsequently resold children to customers in Lagos.
“God blessed me with the gift of pregnancy. Anytime a man has sex with me twice, I get pregnant, and it is always difficult to abort.
“I have sold two sets of children, a newborn boy and twins as well, last year. I sold the twins to … clinic; she also resells them to her customers in Lagos. She has a baby industry. When the owner of the pregnancy rejects the pregnancy, that is when I sell. Sometimes I get ₦80,000 or N₦120,000 for each child I sell.
“The clinic in Ogeere gave me N₦300,000 for the twins,” she said.
Popoola also disclosed that she is a mother of seven children, some of whom, according to her, are already married.
“I gave birth to seven children. Some are married. My last child is six years old, while the eldest is 34 years old,” she said.
Beyond allegedly selling children she had given birth to, Popoola admitted to stealing children from other families. She explained that she allegedly devised a method of gaining access to homes by pretending to be searching for accommodation.
“I steal babies. I will go to their place and say I want to rent a house. Then, if I do not see anyone, if I see their children, I will just steal their children,” she said.
The suspect further alleged that her involvement in child theft was influenced by a woman she worked with at Ogeere Market, who she claimed taught her how to steal children.
She also described another method she allegedly used to target vulnerable families, claiming that she sometimes disguised herself as a spiritualist and approached parents whose children were living with disabilities.
“Sometimes, I disguise myself as a spiritualist. Parents bring their disabled children to me because they cannot talk, sit, or walk.
“So, I will promise them that I can help them to heal, then I will go and pick another person’s child for them,” she said.
Popoola said she had continued with the alleged activities since October 2024 while simultaneously earning a living by selling herbs around Ariyo Bus Stop, Olunloyo.
Her revelations have raised fresh concerns over the activities of suspected child-trafficking networks and the methods allegedly used to gain access to vulnerable children and families.
The allegations are expected to form part of the police investigation as authorities work to establish the full extent of the syndicate’s operations, identify other individuals who may have been involved and determine the whereabouts of any chi
ldren allegedly sold or stolen.