Tayo Adeleke, a suspected kidnapper and child trafficker, was detained by the police on suspicion of being a part of a well-known child trafficking organization.
On Tuesday, December 26, Adeleke and his associates were apprehended in the act of trying to kidnap children from a Baptist church located in the Omu Pempe community within the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Adeleke admitted to his gang's practice of kidnapping children and selling them for money in the neighboring Benin Republic to the Ogun State Police Command.
According to reports, the suspects broke into the Omu Pempe Baptist Church this morning, December 26, at around two in the morning on a motorcycle.
Their goal was to kidnap kids from the church and resell them in the Benin Republic.
But a So-Safe Corps operative received a distress call, which she relayed to the local Divisional Police Officer.
The source claimed that "the three men could not give any cogent explanation as they attempted to flee when they were questioned about their mission in the village."
Adeleke admitted under intense questioning that their plan was to abduct infants and dump them in the Republic of Benin.
Using the information gathered, the Ogun State Police Command, under the direction of Commissioner of Police CP Abiodun Alamutu, is locating the other members of this criminal organization.
The Ogun State Police spokesperson, Omolola Odutola, brought attention to a concerning pattern. He claimed that kidnappers are now concentrating on isolated towns while law enforcement has reinforced the highways.
"Kidnapping in communities is the new trend," Odutola declared. In Ogun, we now control the highways. Now, police officers will be seen on the roads. However, the kidnappers have entered the inner villages and are causing them discomfort. We are going back to the drawing board, but we will get them. There is no place for criminals in this state.
Therefore, we are urging the State's traditional rulers and community leaders to set up internal security measures, such as blocking off entry and exit points, and to provide security personnel with the knowledge they need to help protect people and property. Villagers should assist the police since they are adept at recognizing strangers in their neighborhoods. Thankfully, this attempt was thwarted.
"The Ogun State Command under the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alamutu, will not relent until criminals are flushed out of Ogun, wherever they are."