Adejoke Popoola: Confesses to Child Trafficking in Oyo State, Selling Own Children

• Adejoke Popoola, a suspect in an interstate child-trafficking network in Oyo State, allegedly confessed to selling her own newborn and twins, as well as stealing other children.
• Popoola reportedly used various deceptive methods, including posing as a prospective tenant or a spiritualist, to abduct children.
• She claimed to have sold children for N80,000 to N120,000 each, with twins fetching N300,000 from a clinic in Ogeere.
• The Oyo State Police Command has rescued 17 children and arrested seven suspects, uncovering a wider interstate network.
• Popoola alleged that 19 children were stolen through her activities, with six reportedly dying and 13 remaining alive.

The Oyo State Police Command has made significant progress in its investigation, rescuing 17 children and apprehending seven suspects, including Adejoke Popoola.

Adejoke Popoola, a woman identified as a key suspect in an alleged interstate child-trafficking network, has reportedly confessed to a series of disturbing crimes, including the sale of her own offspring and the abduction of other children. The revelations emerged as police in Oyo State intensified their investigation into the illicit trade. Popoola, who was presented to journalists at the Oyo State Police Command headquarters in Ibadan, claimed her involvement in child stealing and trafficking began in October 2024.

Among her alleged confessions, Popoola admitted to selling a newborn boy and a set of twins she had given birth to. The twins were reportedly sold to a clinic located in Ogeere for N300,000. She further stated that the price for each child she sold typically ranged between N80,000 and N120,000, highlighting the financial motivations behind the alleged criminal enterprise. These admissions form a central part of the ongoing investigation into the extensive child trafficking operations in Oyo State.

Popoola detailed various methods she allegedly employed to steal children, often targeting unsuspecting parents. She claimed to have sometimes posed as a prospective tenant, using the pretense of seeking accommodation to gain access to homes and abduct children when their guardians were absent. She also alleged that a woman she collaborated with at Ogeere Market introduced her to the practice of child stealing.

In another reported tactic, Popoola allegedly disguised herself as a spiritualist, preying on the vulnerability of parents with children living with disabilities. She would promise to heal their children, only to then allegedly abduct another child to present to them. Popoola, who also sold herbs at Ariyo Bus Stop, Olunloyo, in Ibadan, reportedly attributed her frequent pregnancies to a unique physiological trait, stating that conception occurred easily for her, making abortion difficult. With seven children of her own, she claimed to resort to selling babies when the men responsible for her pregnancies rejected them.

One specific case highlighted in the investigation involves the alleged abduction of three-year-old Ifakunle Ifagbenro during an Egungun festival in Oyo Town. Popoola recounted traveling to the festival venue after being directed by a commercial motorcyclist. She reportedly participated in prayers and contributed money before the masquerade procession commenced.

According to Popoola's account, when Ifakunle expressed a desire to join the procession, she volunteered to supervise him. She then allegedly carried the boy on her back during the event before fleeing with him later that evening. This incident provides a stark example of the alleged manipulative and opportunistic methods employed in the Adejoke Popoola child trafficking activities.

The Oyo State Police Command has made significant progress in its investigation, rescuing 17 children and apprehending seven suspects, including Adejoke Popoola. Commissioner of Police Abimbola Olugbenga confirmed that the intelligence-led operation has uncovered a much wider interstate child-trafficking network than initially perceived. The investigation was reportedly initiated following a petition dated July 29, 2026, submitted by Popoola, also known as Orente Alagbo, from the Sogade area of Ariyo, Ibadan. Detectives subsequently linked this petition to the disappearance of Ifakunle Ifagbenro.

Popoola herself claimed that a total of 19 children had been stolen in connection with her activities. Tragically, she alleged that six of these children had died, while 13 remained alive. The ongoing efforts by the Oyo State Police Command aim to dismantle this extensive network and bring all perpetrators to justice, addressing the severe human cost of child trafficking.

Source: Original reporting via {source}