Ogun So-Safe Corps Rescues Three Missing Siblings Found Sleeping Under Arepo Railway Bridge

Three siblings who reportedly left their home in Ifote Village, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, have been rescued by operatives of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, popularly known as So-Safe Corps.

The children, aged 13, eight and six, were found sleeping with their belongings beneath the Arepo railway bridge at about 1:30 am on Tuesday following an overnight search by security operatives.

Their father, 45-year-old bricklayer Shittu Dauda, had reported them missing at about 9:45 pm on Monday after failing to locate them since 3 pm. He told the corps that he had asked the children to go to school for registration before leaving for work, but returned home to discover that they had left with their belongings.

Residents reportedly informed the family that the children had said they were travelling to Arepo, where their mother lives. Following the report, the Divisional Officer of Onireke Division, SC Jinadu Okikiola, mobilised a search team to locate them.

The operatives searched several communities, including Ifote, Oloparun, Shonekan, Shofowote, Seriki and Kajola, before extending their operation to Arepo. The siblings were eventually discovered at the railway bridge and taken back to their community at approximately 2:30 am.

Both parents were subsequently invited to the Onireke Division for questioning and counselling. During the interaction, officers reportedly discovered that the couple had been experiencing marital disagreements, which had affected the attention given to their children.

The eldest child reportedly told the officers that she had made the decision to leave home with her two younger siblings. Following the development, Okikiola advised the parents to settle their differences and prioritise the children’s welfare and safety.

The divisional officer warned that any future incident in which the children are exposed to danger could attract legal consequences. He also urged residents to report cases involving underage children wandering or travelling without adult supervision to security agencies.

Meanwhile, the State Commander of So-Safe Corps, Commander Soji Ganzallo, praised the officers for their swift response and successful rescue operation.