A mother’s tears turned to relief in Mowe, Ogun State on Wednesday, after police rescued a four-month-old baby allegedly stolen by a woman who pretended to care for the exhausted mother during treatment at a clinic.
The dramatic rescue, which followed an intensive police operation across parts of Mowe, also led to the arrest of a husband and wife allegedly linked to a child-stealing syndicate and the recovery of two other children suspected to have been abducted using similar deceptive tactics.
The Ogun State Police Command disclosed this in a statement issued by the Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Oluseyi Babaseyi on Wednesday.
According to Babaseyi, the incident began on May 16, 2026, when the nursing mother visited a clinic in Mowe for medical attention.
He said the suspect, identified as Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu, allegedly approached the victim inside the clinic under the guise of offering assistance and emotional support.
“The suspect reportedly gained the confidence of the exhausted mother by pretending to assist her during treatment and subsequently offered to help carry the baby,” he stated.
The police spokesperson explained that moment later, the suspect allegedly disappeared with the infant, throwing the mother, relatives and residents of the area into panic.
“The incident created panic and emotional distress for the mother and members of the community as frantic efforts commenced to trace the missing child,” Babaseyi added.
Following a formal complaint lodged at the Mowe Police Division, the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Afeniforo Folake, immediately mobilised detectives and surveillance teams to commence a coordinated rescue operation.
“Police operatives swiftly launched intelligence-driven operations, placing strategic locations, motor parks and possible exit routes under surveillance while detectives intensified efforts to track down the suspects,” the statement said.
Babaseyi disclosed that less than 48 hours after the abduction, operatives successfully traced the suspects to a hideout located in the Kekere Ekun area of Mowe.
“During the operation, the stolen four-month-old baby was rescued unharmed alongside two other children found in the suspects’ possession,” he revealed.
The suspects, identified as Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu and her husband, Ugochukwu Mathew, were immediately arrested by the police.
According to preliminary investigations, one of the additional rescued children had earlier been declared missing in a child theft case reported in 2024.
“Investigations revealed that one of the rescued children had previously been reported missing after allegedly being stolen from a hairdressing salon through similar deceptive tactics,” Babaseyi stated.
He added that investigators suspect the couple may be part of a wider child trafficking and abduction syndicate operating within and outside Ogun State.
“For some of the affected families, the rescue operation marked an emotional reunion after months and, in one case, years of uncertainty and heartbreak,” the police spokesperson said.
Babaseyi confirmed that the biological parents of two of the rescued children had already identified and reunited with their children.
“The Command remains committed to ensuring that every individual connected to the criminal network is identified, arrested and prosecuted accordingly,” he assured.
The case has since been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, Abeokuta, for further discreet investigation.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, CP Bode Ojajuni, commended officers attached to the Mowe Division for their swift response and professionalism.
“The Commissioner of Police praised the dedication, professionalism and timely intervention of the officers involved in the rescue operation,” Babaseyi stated.
He said the Commissioner reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to combating child trafficking, abduction and other violent crimes across the state.
“The Ogun State Police Command will continue to intensify efforts aimed at protecting vulnerable residents and dismantling criminal syndicates involved in child theft and trafficking,” he added.
The police spokesperson also urged residents to remain vigilant and exercise caution around strangers who attempt to gain unusual access to children under the guise of offering assistance.
“We advise parents and guardians to remain security conscious and promptly report suspicious movements or behaviour within their communities to the nearest police station,” Babaseyi said.
