The Ondo State Police Command has rescued a four-year-old girl, Jesinta Sunday, and uncovered a suspected child-trafficking syndicate operating across three states.
Jesinta, who went missing in February from her home at Alagbaka Extension, Akure, was declared missing by her father, Sunday Kingsley.
Following months of investigation, detectives from the Command’s Gender Desk traced the child to Asaba, Delta State, where she was safely recovered and reunited with her family.
The police arrested a 30-year-old woman, Amaka Chukwuemeka, who reportedly confessed to buying the child for ₦3.7 million. She claimed her friend, 38-year-old Chinaza Owoh, introduced her to a 58-year-old woman, Mabel Esimai, who allegedly handed over the child using forged adoption papers.
Further investigation led to the arrest of Esimai, who was said to have confessed that she received the child from another suspect, 37-year-old Chioma Okechukwu, with instructions to find a buyer.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Adebowale Lawal, commended the Gender Desk team for its professionalism and vowed that all those involved in the syndicate would be prosecuted.
“Ondo State cannot and will not be a safe haven for child traffickers,” Lawal said.
The Command also urged residents to remain vigilant and assured that efforts to dismantle criminal networks across the state would be sustained.
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