So-Safe rescues 3 missing siblings found sleeping at Arepo railway bridge

Operatives of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps, So-Safe Corps, have rescued three siblings who went missing from their home in Ifote Village, Ifo Local Government Area.

The children, aged 13, 8 and 6, were found sleeping with their belongings at the Arepo railway bridge at about 1:30 am on Tuesday, after an overnight search.

DAILY POST gathered that the children were reported missing by their father, Mr Shittu Dauda, 45, a bricklayer, at about 9:45 pm on Monday, after they had not been found since about 3 pm that day.

Dauda told the Corps that he had instructed the children to go to school for registration before leaving for work, but returned to discover they had left home with their belongings.

Residents told the family the children said they were travelling to Arepo, where their mother resides.

The Divisional Officer, Onireke Division, SC Jinadu Okikiola, immediately mobilised a team and searched Ifote, Oloparun, Shonekan, Shofowote, Seriki and Kajola before extending the search to Arepo.

The children were found at the railway bridge and conveyed back to their community at about 2:30 am.

Both parents were later invited to the Onireke Division for questioning and counselling.

During the interaction, it emerged that the parents had been experiencing marital disagreements, which reportedly affected the attention given to the children.

The eldest child reportedly told officers that she independently decided to leave home with her younger siblings.

The Divisional Officer counselled the parents on the need to resolve their differences and ensure the safety of the children, warning that any recurrence that exposes them to danger could attract legal action.

He also urged residents to promptly alert security agencies when they see underage children wandering or travelling without adult supervision, rather than merely questioning them.

The State Commander of So-Safe Corps, Commander Soji Ganzallo, also commended the officers for the prompt rescue.