By Florencemary Nwabueze
In a dramatic late-night operation, the operatives of the Lagos State Police have rescued four kidnapped children from suspected trafficker at Alafia Bus Terminal in Coker-Orile area of the state and reunited them with their parents.
This was announced in a statement issued by the police public relations officer SP Abimbola Adebisi on Sunday.
Authorities said that the rescue occurred on Friday, May 8, 2026, at about 11:40 p.m., when a patrol team on routine duty at the Alafia Bus Terminal in Coker-Orile observed four children in the company of an unidentified woman preparing to board a luxury bus heading out of Lagos State.
"Upon sighting the police patrol team, the suspected trafficker abandoned the children and fled the scene to an unknown destination." The statement reads
Preliminary investigation revealed that the children had been kidnapped from the Ijesha-Tedo area of Lagos and were about to be moved out of the state under the cover of night before police intervened.
"The children were taken into protective custody while efforts commenced to trace their families. Their parents were subsequently contacted, and the four children have since been safely reunited with them." The statement reads
Reacting to the incident, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (CP), Fatai Tijani, praised the alertness and professionalism of the patrol officers involved in the rescue operation.
He reassured Lagos residents of the command's continued commitment to protecting lives and property, while urging parents and guardians to remain vigilant regarding the safety and whereabouts of their children at all times.
Authorities said that investigation are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing suspect and uncover other individuals connected to the criminal act.