The Ondo State Police Command, under the dynamic stewardship of the Commissioner of Police, CP Adebowale Lawal, psc(+), mnips, and in line with the policing vision of the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, Ph.D., NPM, wishes to inform the general public of a major breakthrough in the recovery of a missing child and the dismantling of a child-trafficking syndicate operating across Ondo, Delta, and Anambra States.
The case began on 3rd February, 2025, when one Sunday Kingsley ‘m’ of Alagbaka Extension, Akure, reported that his 4-year-old daughter, Jesinta Sunday, who was living with his wife, one Sunday Happiness ‘f’, had gone missing. The case was transferred to the Monitoring Unit, State Command Headquarters, for discreet investigation. In the course of proceedings, the matter was charged before the Family Magistrate Court, leading to the remand of the child’s mother, one Nneka Onah ‘f’, alongside Sunday Happiness ‘f’, at the Ondo Correctional Centre before they were later granted bail.
While investigations continued, a breakthrough came on 9th July, 2025, when the complainant, Sunday Kingsley, returned to the station to report that the missing child had been sighted in Asaba, Delta State. Acting without delay, detectives of the Command’s Gender Desk Team moved into action, successfully recovering the child and bringing her back safely to Akure. The operation also led to the arrest of one Amaka Chukwuemeka ‘f’, aged 30 years, who confessed that she had purchased the child for ₦3,700,000 (Three Million, Seven Hundred Thousand Naira).
She further revealed that it was her friend, one Chinaza Owoh ‘f’, aged 38 years, who introduced her to another woman, one Mabel Esimai ‘f’, aged 58 years, who released the child to her under the guise of adoption, providing forged documents in the process.
This discovery prompted further investigation, which led to the arrest of Mabel Esimai. During interrogation, she disclosed that she received the child from one Chioma Okechukwu ‘f’, aged 37 years, with the instruction to find a buyer. These revelations exposed the activities of a well-organized trafficking syndicate whose operations extend across Ondo, Delta, and Anambra States, thereby highlighting the scale and reach of the criminal enterprise.
Commending the officers, the Commissioner of Police praised the professionalism and diligence of the Command’s Gender Desk Team, whose swift and coordinated response ensured both the safe recovery of the child and the arrest of key suspects. He further directed the team to continue investigations to uncover all collaborators and to prosecute the suspects accordingly.
The Ondo State Police Command assures the public that it will continue to combat all forms of crime with renewed determination and efficiency. In the words of the Commissioner of Police: “Ondo State cannot and will not be a safe haven for child traffickers or any criminal syndicate.”
For any inquiries, please contact:
*0906 058 8958*
X-@OndoPoliceNg
Instagram-Ondopolicecommand
Facebook-Ondo Police Command
Email: [email protected]
*E- Signed*
*DSP AYANLADE OLAYINKA OLUSHOLA*
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)
Ondo State Police Command
For: – Commissioner of Police, Ondo State
