Get Guardian on GoogleOperatives of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-Safe Corps, have rescued three siblings who were reported missing from their home in Ifote Village, Ifo Local Government Area of the state.
The children (names withheld), between the age of 13, 8, and 6 respectively, were found safe and alive at the Arepo railway bridge in the early hours of Tuesday, November 3, 2026, following an extensive overnight search coordinated by the Onireke Divisional Headquarters of the Corps.
The children’s father, Mr Shittu Dauda, 45, a bricklayer, contacted the Divisional Officer of Onireke Division, SC Jinadu Okikiola, at about 9:45pm on Monday, November 2, 2026, after his three children had reportedly been missing since around 3pm that day.
Dauda explained that he had instructed the children, through their eldest sibling, Mary, to go to school for registration at about 8am before he left for work. However, upon his return, he discovered that the children had left home with their belongings and could not be located.
It was learnt that the children had told some people they were travelling to Arepo. Despite initial efforts by family members and residents to trace them, the search proved unsuccessful, prompting the family to seek the intervention of the corps.
The Corps’ Commander, Dr. Soji Ganzallo confirmed this to newsmen in a statement by the Corps’ Director of Information and Public Relations, Assistant Commander of Corps, Adegunwa Adegbuyi in Abeokuta, yesterday.
Ganzallo said that upon receiving the distress call, the SC Okikiola, immediately mobilised a team of officers and commenced an intensive search, following information that the children’s mother resided in Arepo, even though her exact address was unknown to the family.
“The search operation covered several communities and locations, including Ifote, Oloparun, Shonekan, Shofowote, Seriki and Kajola, before extending to Arepo.”
“At about 1:30am on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, the search team eventually located the three children sleeping with their belongings at the Arepo railway bridge.”
“The Divisional Officer promptly contacted their father and other community members to inform them that the children had been found safe.” he noted.
The commander said that the children and their belongings were subsequently conveyed back to their community at about 2:30am.
He said that both parents of the children were later invited to the Onireke Division for questioning and counselling and it was discovered that the parents were engaged in series of marital disagreements, which reportedly affected the family and the children.
During further questioning, the eldest child, Mary, reportedly stated that she independently initiated the decision to leave home with her younger siblings.
In response, the Divisional Officer counselled both parents on the importance of resolving their differences amicably, providing adequate parental care and ensuring the safety and emotional well-being of their children.
He cautioned that any recurrence of circumstances that expose the children to neglect or danger could attract appropriate legal action.
Okikiola also cautioned Mary never to run away from home again and advised her to always communicate things their parents or other trusted adults rather than embarking on such a dangerous journey with her younger siblings.
The Divisional Officer further urged community members to take greater responsibility for the protection of children by doing more than merely questioning underage children found wandering or travelling without adult supervision.
He encouraged residents to intervene appropriately and promptly alert the nearest security agency whenever they encounter children in suspicious or potentially unsafe circumstances.
Ganzallo, commended the Onireke Divisional Officer, Okikiola and his team of officers, for their prompt response, determination and successful overnight search, which ensured that the children were reunited with their parents unharmed.
He also urged parents and guardians to prioritise the welfare, supervision and protection of their children, stressing that family disagreements should never be allowed to compromise the safety and proper upbringing of minors.
