The Delta State Police Command has rescued a two-year-old child allegedly abducted in Warri and concealed inside a sack bag, leading to the arrest of a 29-year-old suspect identified as Fejiro Obaduemu.
The dramatic rescue, which took place at Igbudu Market in Warri, followed swift intervention by operatives of the Quick Response Squad (QRS) after vigilant residents raised alarm over the suspect’s suspicious movement with the child.
According to a statement on Tuesday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, the incident occurred on May 10, 2026, at about 9:15 a.m. when the suspect, said to be from Idesor Street, Esi Layout, Warri, was intercepted by residents who suspected an attempted child theft.
The police said the child was allegedly hidden inside a sack bag, a development that provoked outrage from the crowd, which attempted to lynch the suspect before QRS operatives arrived at the scene.
“The operatives swiftly rescued both the suspect and the child and evacuated them to safety,” the statement said.
Obaduemu, who reportedly sustained injuries from the mob attack, was first taken to the Police Clinic in Warri for treatment before being placed in custody for further investigation.
Police investigations conducted the following day reportedly led to the tracing of the child’s biological parents, after which the toddler was formally reunited with the family in the presence of leaders of the Hausa community in Warri.
Preliminary findings, according to the police, indicate that the suspect allegedly confessed to acting on the instructions of another individual currently at large, who allegedly sent him to steal the child.
The command said efforts were ongoing to arrest the fleeing accomplice and uncover a wider child trafficking network operating within the state.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner of Police in Delta State, Yemi Oyeniyi, reaffirmed the command’s commitment to combating child trafficking, abduction, and related crimes.
He urged residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities involving children to the nearest police station or through the command’s emergency line: 08036684974.
The latest operation comes amid growing concerns over child trafficking and abduction cases in parts of the country, with security agencies intensifying surveillance and community-based intelligence gathering to curb the menace.
