Police rescue six children stolen by human trafficking syndicates in Niger State

The Niger State Police Command has rescued six children abducted by suspected human trafficking syndicates in different parts of the state within one month, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.

The rescue followed two separate operations, including the arrest of a 40 year old man, Usman Adamu, who was found with four children Khalid Ilyasu (7), Sadiq Ilyasu (11), Ahmed Ilyasu (5) and Sadiq Idris (5) around Angwan Katampe in Sabon Wuse, Tafa Local Government Area. Police said the suspect was nearly lynched by an angry mob before officers intervened and took him and the children into custody.

State Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said Adamu confessed during interrogation that an unidentified woman commissioned him to procure the children for a promised reward. He added that the suspect is now in the custody of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Minna, as efforts intensify to track the woman.

In a separate breakthrough, police arrested a couple Leonard Ugochukwu (55) and Ngozi Ugochukwu (45) for allegedly buying two trafficked children at ₦1.1 million each. The suspects, residents of Kurudu, Abuja, were found with the children, Goodnews Sunday (4) and Ummikari Bello (3), at their home in the Orozo area.

According to the police, the couple admitted they purchased the children from one Okpalaye Ibrahim, said to be a hospital worker in the area. They further told investigators that Ibrahim charged them ₦1.1 million per child plus a ₦100,000 registration fee, totalling ₦2.3 million.

Abiodun said the couple is in custody, and investigators are working to arrest other accomplices and recover additional trafficked children.