Akure, Ondo State | September 29, 2025
A human rights lawyer, Tope Temokun, has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the handling of a case involving the kidnapping and trafficking of a five-year-old girl in Akure, Ondo State.
In the petition, Temokun alleged that the Ondo State Police Command failed to properly document the case, omitted key suspects, and attempted to shield a popular restaurant owner allegedly linked to the incident.
AHe further demanded the release of the child’s parents, who were reportedly detained, and called for a transparent investigation into the matter.
According to police accounts, the case was first reported by the child’s stepfather.
Detectives later traced and rescued the girl in Asaba, Delta State, after she had reportedly been trafficked through Onitsha.
Police authorities confirmed that suspects had been arrested and described the incident as a case of human trafficking rather than simple abduction.
The Ondo State Police Command rejected claims of misconduct, stating that its records are open for scrutiny and maintaining that the investigation was conducted lawfully.
The petition has also been copied to the Police Service Commission, the Ondo State governor, and the Director-General of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
