Six children have reportedly died in captivity while 17 others were rescued as the Oyo State Police Command uncovered an alleged interstate child-trafficking network.

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‎The command also announced the arrest of seven suspects in connection with the alleged criminal operation.

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‎The Commissioner of Police, CP Abimbola Olugbenga, disclosed this during a briefing in Ibadan, saying investigations revealed a network allegedly involved in abducting children, moving them across state borders and selling them to buyers.

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‎Police said some of the children were allegedly sold for between ₦500,000 and ₦600,000, raising concerns over the scale of the trafficking operation.

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‎The investigation also uncovered an alleged ritual dimension, with police accusing some suspects of supplying the bodies of children who died in captivity to suspected ritualists.

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‎According to the command, the breakthrough followed investigations into reports of missing children. Detectives subsequently traced the alleged trafficking network and rescued 17 children.

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‎Police said efforts were ongoing to locate other missing children and identify more suspects believed to be connected to the operation.

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‎The seven arrested suspects are expected to face prosecution upon completion of investigations.

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‎The command urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant and immediately report missing children to the police and other relevant authorities.

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‎Police also called for greater community cooperation to help expose child abductors, traffickers and other criminal elements operating across state boundaries.