Mother’s Relief As Police Rescue Stolen Baby, Uncover Alleged Child-Stealing Syndicate In Ogun

What began as a mother’s moment of vulnerability at a clinic in Mowe, Ogun State, nearly turned into a lifelong nightmare after her four-month-old baby was allegedly stolen by a woman who pretended to be helping her.

The emotional incident, which has shocked residents of the community, led to the arrest of a husband and wife allegedly linked to a child-stealing syndicate and the rescue of three children believed to have been abducted using similar deceptive tactics.

According to police investigations, the distraught mother had visited a clinic in the Mowe area on May 16, 2026, for medical attention when a woman later identified as Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu reportedly approached her under the guise of offering care and support.

Witnesses say the suspect appeared calm, caring, and trustworthy as she offered to help hold the baby while the exhausted mother rested briefly during treatment.

Moments later, both the woman and the infant had disappeared.

The incident reportedly threw the mother, family members, and residents into panic as desperate efforts began to locate the missing child.

Following a complaint lodged at the Mowe Police Division, detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer, CSP Afeniforo Folake, immediately launched a coordinated search operation across the area.

Motor parks, exit routes, and strategic locations were placed under surveillance while intelligence teams worked around the clock to trace the suspects.

Less than 48 hours later, police operatives tracked the suspects to a hideout in the Kekere Ekun area of Mowe, where the stolen four-month-old baby was rescued alongside two other children found in their possession.

The suspects — Oluwarankami Kehinde Ugochukwu and her husband, Ugochukwu Mathew — were immediately arrested.

What investigators discovered next made the case even more disturbing.

Preliminary findings revealed that one of the rescued children had earlier been declared missing in a child theft case reported in 2024. Investigators believe the child was taken from a hairdressing salon using the same deceptive strategy of pretending to offer assistance to unsuspecting mothers.

For some of the affected families, the recovery of the children marked an emotional reunion after months — and in one case, years — of uncertainty and heartbreak.

Police sources confirmed that the biological parents of two of the rescued children have already identified and reunited with their children.

Residents in the community have since praised the swift response of officers attached to the Mowe Division, describing the rescue as timely and lifesaving.

The case has now been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Eleweran, for further investigation as authorities work to determine whether more victims may be connected to the suspected syndicate.

Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police, Bode Ojajuni commended the officers involved in the operation and reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to tackling child trafficking, abduction, and other violent crimes across the state.

The shocking incident has also triggered renewed concerns among parents and guardians about the growing sophistication of child traffickers who often disguise themselves as helpers or caregivers to gain the trust of vulnerable families.

Police authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious behaviour or unusual movements within their communities.