Operatives of the Lagos State Police Command have rescued four children suspected to have been kidnapped and reunited them with their families after a late-night operation at Alafia Bus Terminal in the Coker-Orile area of Lagos State.
The rescue operation was confirmed in a statement issued on Sunday by the command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi.
According to the statement, the incident happened at about 11:40 p.m. on May 8, 2026, when police officers on routine patrol observed four children in the company of an unidentified woman preparing to board a luxury bus heading outside Lagos State.
The woman reportedly became suspicious after noticing the patrol officers and immediately fled the scene, abandoning the children behind.
“On 8th May, 2026 at about 11:40pm, while on routine patrol around Alafia Bus Terminal, Coker-Orile, Police operatives observed four children in the company of an unidentified woman who was about to board a luxurious bus heading outside Lagos State,” the statement read.
“Upon sighting the Police patrol team, the suspected trafficker abandoned the children and fled the scene to an unknown destination.”
Police authorities said preliminary investigations later showed that the children had earlier been abducted from the Ijesha-Tedo area of Lagos State and were allegedly being transported out of the state under the cover of darkness before the police intervention.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the children had earlier been kidnapped from the Ijesha-Tedo area of Lagos State and were about to be moved out of the State under the cover of night to an unknown destination before the timely intervention of the Police,” the statement added.
Following the rescue, the children were immediately placed in protective custody while officers began efforts to locate their families.
The police later confirmed that the parents of the children were successfully contacted and the victims have now been safely reunited with them.
Authorities also disclosed that investigations are ongoing to track down the fleeing suspect and identify any accomplices connected to the attempted trafficking operation.
The Commissioner of Police, Tijani Fatai, praised the officers involved in the operation for their alertness and professionalism.
He also reassured residents that the command remains committed to protecting lives and combating crimes involving children and other vulnerable persons across Lagos State.
“The Commissioner of Police commends the alertness and professionalism of the patrol officers involved in the rescue operation and reassures Lagos residents of the Command’s continuous commitment to protecting lives and property across the State,” the statement said.
The police boss further urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant about the safety and movements of their children and encouraged residents to quickly report suspicious activities involving minors to the nearest police station or security agency.
