The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a couple over their alleged involvement in child theft, successfully rescuing three children in the Mowe area of the state.
The suspects, identified as Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu and her husband, Ugochukwu Mathew, were apprehended following a coordinated operation by detectives attached to the Mowe Division.
According to a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi, the arrest was triggered by a complaint filed on May 17, 2026, by a resident of Omo Onile, Mowe.
The complainant reported that her four-month-old baby had been stolen a day earlier while she was receiving treatment at a local clinic.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the female suspect allegedly visited the clinic under the guise of checking on the mother’s health.
She reportedly gained the woman’s trust and deceitfully took custody of the infant, claiming she wanted to assist while the mother rested. She subsequently fled with the child.
Acting swiftly on the report, police detectives launched an intelligence-driven operation, placing motor parks and other strategic locations under surveillance.
Their efforts led to the arrest of the suspects at their hideout in the Kekere Ekun area of Mowe on May 18, 2026.
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During the operation, the stolen four-month-old baby was rescued alongside two other children found in the suspects’ possession.
Further investigations uncovered that one of the rescued children had previously been declared missing in a 2024 child theft incident.
The child was reportedly taken from a hairdressing salon using a similar deceptive method.
The police confirmed that the biological parents of two of the rescued children have been identified and reunited with their children.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Eleweran for further investigation.
The Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni, commended the officers involved for their prompt response and professionalism, reiterating the Command’s commitment to combating child trafficking, abduction, and other criminal activities across the state.
The Command also urged members of the public to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
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