By Trendsetter Tribune 
A harrowing case of child abduction has emerged from Iyana Iba, Lagos State, where three-year-old Ibrahim Owoduni was allegedly kidnapped by a trusted neighbor and sold into a trafficking network for N1.5 million.
The boy’s father, Ahmed Owoduni, shared the chilling details of the investigation with SaharaReporters on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, revealing how technology and a father’s persistence broke the case wide open.
The Disappearance and the CCTV Breakthrough
Ibrahim went missing on January 17, 2026, while playing in front of his home on Orji Street. For a week, the family searched in vain, even as the prime suspect, a neighbor named Sadiq Ige, reportedly joined in the search effort to deflect suspicion.
The breakthrough came on January 24, when Ahmed Owoduni reviewed CCTV footage from a neighbor’s house.
- The Footage: The video clearly showed Sadiq Ige leading little Ibrahim away from the street.
- The Biscuit Lure: Other children in the neighborhood confirmed that Ige had bought biscuits for Ibrahim just before he vanished.
Confessions and the N1.5 Million Sale
Following his arrest, Ige’s confession at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti, revealed a sophisticated trafficking chain:
- Sadiq Ige (Neighbor): Admitted to kidnapping the boy and handing him to Adetayo Yusuf, another resident on the same street.
- Adetayo Yusuf: Facilitated the transfer to a third party.
- Vera Okon: Confessed to selling Ibrahim for N1.5 million and transporting him to a village in Ihiala, Anambra State, on January 25.
A Failed Rescue Mission in Anambra
In a desperate bid to recover his son, Ahmed Owoduni paid N500,000 to hire a bus to take Lagos police officers and the suspect, Vera Okon, to Anambra on January 29. However, the mission hit a wall:
- “No-Enter Area”: The driver described the destination village as a dangerous hub where kidnapping is a “regular business activity.”
- The Buyer’s Defiance: While Vera Okon was in custody, the driver managed to reach the alleged buyer via phone. The buyer reportedly admitted he knew the police were looking for him but stated he was “not available for arrest.”
- Police Logistics: Due to documentation delays and the volatility of the area, the team returned to Lagos on January 31 without the child.
Allegations of Police Sabotage
The father has raised concerns about a potential mole within the police force. An officer at the Iba station, known as “Small,” is alleged to have communicated with the suspect, Ige, while he was in a cell, telling him to “remain calm” and that a lawyer was being arranged. That officer has since been summoned to Panti for interrogation.
Current Status
As of Wednesday morning, February 4, 2026, Ibrahim Owoduni remains missing. The three primary suspects—Sadiq Ige, Adetayo Yusuf, and Vera Okon—remain in custody at Panti, Yaba. The family is now calling on the highest levels of the Nigeria Police Force to launch a tactical operation in Anambra to dismantle the trafficking cell and bring Ibrahim home.