- Police rescued 59 trafficked children on the Abuja-Kano highway.
- Two suspects were arrested, including a self-proclaimed Islamic school teacher.
- Authorities are working to reunite the children with their families.
In a major breakthrough, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has dismantled a child trafficking syndicate, rescuing 59 children who were being transported illegally across the country.
The children, aged between 4 and 12 years, were intercepted on the Abuja-Kano highway by the police Patrol and Guard unit.
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Led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sarki Umar, the team stopped a white Peugeot 15 bus with the registration number KMC 283 ZJ, driven by Idris Usman, a resident of Kano State.
Accompanying Usman was Alhassan Ibrahim, also from Kano.
The children, coming from various families, were being transported under the guise of training for an Islamic school in Nasarawa State.
FCT Police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu, confirmed the arrest and disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed that the children had no parental consent or proper documentation for their movement.
“This incident is classified as suspected child abuse and trafficking due to the lack of consent and the illegal transportation of the minors,” Disu stated.
At a press conference, Usman, who claimed to be an Islamic school teacher, asserted that he was unaware of the illegality of his actions.
He explained that he had been involved in education for over forty years, often sending the children to beg for food during their training.
Usman admitted that this was the first time he had taken such a large group of children to Nasarawa.
The police have taken the suspects, the vehicle, and the children into custody.
The FCT Police Command is collaborating with the FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS) to reunite the children with their families and bring all involved in the trafficking operation to justice.
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Disu emphasized the commitment of the FCT police to protecting vulnerable groups, especially children, from exploitation, in line with the Child’s Rights Act of 2003.
He also urged parents and guardians to be vigilant and prioritize their children’s safety.
