Lagos State Police Command has rescued four children who were kidnapped from the Ijesha-Tedo area and intercepted at Alafia Bus Terminal in Coker-Orile. The rescue occurred at around 11:40 p.m. on May 8, 2026, when police on routine patrol noticed the children with an unidentified woman preparing to board a luxury bus bound for outside Lagos State. Upon seeing the officers, the woman fled, leaving the children behind. A statement from Police Public Relations Officer SP Abimbola Adebisi confirmed the incident and described the woman as a suspected trafficker. The children were taken into protective custody immediately after the encounter. Preliminary investigations revealed they had been abducted earlier and were being moved out of state under the cover of night. Police traced the families of the children, who have since been reunited with their parents. The investigation continues into the identity of the fleeing woman and any others involved in the attempted trafficking. CP Tijani Fatai, Commissioner of Police for Lagos State, commended the patrol officers for their alertness and professionalism during the operation. He reaffirmed the command's commitment to safeguarding lives and property across the state. Fatai also urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant about their children's safety and to report any suspicious activity involving minors to the nearest police station or security agency without delay.
CP Tijani Fatai praises officers for stopping a child trafficking attempt, yet the suspect remains at large weeks after the incident. The police commissioner's call for public vigilance shifts focus from law enforcement's failure to apprehend the woman who fled at the terminal. If the patrol team acted so professionally, why has no arrest been made since May 8? The parents may have their children back, but the system still failed to secure the person who took them.
Editorial note: AI-assisted opinion. All persons mentioned are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Full disclaimer →
