A human rights lawyer, Tope Temokun, has raised an alarm by petitioning the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, regarding the mishandling of the kidnapping and trafficking case involving a five-year-old girl in Akure, Ondo State. In the petition, which also includes copies to the Chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC), Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Temokun accused the Ondo State Police Command of trying to cover up crucial details of the case.
The girl, who was abducted a few months ago, was trafficked from Akure to Onitsha, Anambra State, and later sold in Asaba, Delta State, for a staggering N4.05 million. Temokun has pointed out that the main suspect in the case, a prominent restaurant owner in Akure, was reportedly the last person seen with the child before her disappearance. Yet, he claims the police have been deliberately shielding this individual from proper investigation.
The petition follows a statement from the Ondo State Police Command stating that the child’s disappearance was initially reported by her stepfather, Sunday Kingsley, from the Alagbaka Extension area of Akure. The case was filed before the Family Magistrate Court, resulting in the remand of the child’s mother at the Ondo Correctional Centre. However, Temokun has slammed the police’s statement, issued on September 25, 2025, as a deliberate misrepresentation of the facts. He claims the statement omits key details and suppresses critical investigative leads, including the identities of individuals already under suspicion.
“This deliberate misrepresentation erases the true complainants from the narrative, thereby concealing critical leads in the investigation,” Temokun stated. He further argued that the exclusion of Mrs. Happiness Sunday, the child’s guardian, and Vivian Ngozi, identified as a key accomplice in the trafficking ring, indicates a clear attempt to cover up the facts.
In his petition, the lawyer called on the IGP, Ondo State Government, and the public to intervene, ensuring justice for the victim and her family. He demanded the immediate release of the child’s parents and a thorough, transparent investigation into the trafficking network. Temokun also called for the prompt prosecution of all involved parties.
Responding to these allegations, Ayanlade Olayinka, the spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, confirmed that the case was reported by the child’s stepfather. Olayinka further clarified that the investigation had led to the rescue of the child in Asaba, after the police tracked down the suspects. “It is not a case of abduction. It’s a case of human trafficking and stealing,” Olayinka said. “The investigation is transparent enough, and the records are there. Anyone can access them in writing. People should appreciate the police’s efforts.”
