Shocking Revelation: How an Edo Couple Stole 12 Kids Across Ondo and Osun

When police officers from Ondo State followed 42-year-old Lukman Isiaka and his 23-year-old wife Abosede to their base in Edo State to arrest them for snatching a child in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, it was the end of their story.

The pair disclosed that since 2022, they had been snatching children from the states of Ondo and Osun, selling each one to Sabina Izuorah in Ihiala, Anambra State, for N1 million.

Ten children that Isiaka and his wife had taken, as well as four more infants whose parents had not yet been located, were recovered during a police raid on Izuorah's Clara Children Care and Reform Initiative.

Wilfred Afolabi, the commissioner of police for Ondo State, stated that intelligence-led policing was the reason behind the suspects' arrest.

According to Afolabi, Isiaka and his spouse had introduced themselves to the complainant as siblings. According to him, they identified themselves as Ewatomi (Abosede) and Samuel Adejobi (Isiaka).

He said, "Abosede tricked the complainant by saying she wanted to buy biscuits for the baby while she was playing with her child." Lukman diverted the complainant's attention by talking to her personally and asking her to accompany him to the market's Olukayode Plaza so he could obtain a cell phone.
 

Isiaka claimed that before he began kidnapping children, he was a bricklayer from Ibadan. He said that Mrs. Izuorah was the one who taught him the methods and pushed him to kidnap children.

"I'm from Ibadan, but I live in Edo State," he stated. Since 2022, I have been stealing children. Twelve children have been snatched by me.

Children will follow us if we tell them we want to buy them a bobo (soft drink) when we notice them strolling by themselves on our way somewhere.

"We would bike to the motor park to catch a bus to Anambra State after they followed us."

He said, "I have not sold any children," when asked if he had sold any of his own. My sole child passed away.

After finishing the task I had come to Anambra to perform, I was given the opportunity to meet people in Izuorah.
She assigned me a task, and after I completed it, she informed me that she worked for an orphanage and that we should bring any children we came across to her.

She gave me instructions after I told her that I had no idea how to kidnap children.

"I don't try to woo the kids with charm.

We work in Osun State as well.

"We don't retain the kids. They follow us right away, so we buy them bobo and biscuits and give them our phones to keep them from weeping.

Mrs. Izuorah, the children's purported recipient, called Isiaka a fool.

She stated that she had banned Isiaka from bringing children to her since November due to a recent partial stroke.

"I am 68 years old," she stated. I'm not interested in buying kids or doing business with Isiaka.

"I was a Director in the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs in Anambra State till I retired.

"My orphanage is officially recognized. I look after kids.

"Their parents placed these infants in my care while they awaited their return.
"Don't worry about the wife and Lukman, the idiots. I don't purchase kids from them.

They assert that their parents abandoned the children they brought. I didn't give them any cash.

"I am unaware of anything they offer Lukman after the paperwork is completed when they bring the kids and I find a family in need of them.

"I follow the standard procedure. In 2020, I went into full operation.

"Isiaka brought eleven kids." I'm not paying. Lukman is paid by the adopting parents.

Isiaka had already distributed the kids she brought. They were recently returned to me by their adoptive parents.
"I don't sell infants. I did not initiate adoption, and I will not finish it.
 

Some parents described how their children were transported to Anambra State after being reportedly stolen by Isiaka and his wife, Abosede.

Three of her grandchildren were robbed in front of their home, according to Mrs. Bosede Olowokere. Of the ten children that the police rescued, two were still missing.

"I am a grandmother to three of the stolen children," Olowokere stated. Ahmed is the third, Olalimekan is the second, and Samuel is the first. In Ilesha, Osun State, they took them that same day.

I came back from work to see them playing outside. I met them when I got back from the market. I started looking for them to join me for dinner after I finished cooking.

It has been January 26, 2024, since I last saw them. However, I've already seen two of the ones that were saved. It's still one.

"We looked everywhere for them, but we couldn't find them. Seeing two makes me smile.

Although his kid was not one of the children saved, Mr. Atilola named Abosede as the mother who had taken his child. Within a few days after Bose rented a room in the same building as Atilola, she abducted their son and ran away.

According to Atilola, Lukman's wife came to our neighborhood in Osun State in order to get a rental apartment. She was given the apartment by the landlady. She covered six months' worth of expenses.

"My child was taken away by Bose (Abosede) shortly after that. I am currently witnessing that Bose.

"Our child was not present here. Bose took him when he was three years old. Teslim Atilola Ahmed is his name.

According to Mrs. Babalola Salome, her son David was stolen when he was two years and six months old. She claimed that she persevered because she had confidence in God that she would see her again. When they first met, her son, who is now Chijioke, did not recognize her. He's four years old now.

She claims that on June 12, 2023, her son was taken. By God's grace, we have been able to cope.
That day, David and his brother were playing in a nearby store as I worked inside my own.

"I overheard my son talking as if they were receiving something. David's brother arrived after I called him. We didn't see David again after I instructed him to phone his brother. We have searched everywhere for him.

"I didn't go see a witch doctor, or Babalawo. I thought I would see my baby someday.

"My infant didn't recognize me in the typical manner. In Anambra State, they renamed him Chijioke.
"I wasn't feeling well. Waking up and not being able to see your child is challenging. I'm grateful that I'm still here to see Jehovah.

The commissioner of police for Ondo State stated that they would face charges shortly.

The other youngsters on the missing list are being sought and rescued, he said.