POLICE RESCUE SIX CHILDREN FROM TRAFFICKING RING OPERATING BETWEEN NIGER, FCT
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The Niger State Police Command has rescued six children allegedly trafficked by a syndicate operating between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, command spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, revealed that three of the children, aged between two and three years, were initially abducted from the Lambata area of Niger State. Investigators later traced the suspected traffickers to the Kurudu area of Abuja, leading to the arrest of a couple, Leonard (55) and Ngozi (45) Ugochukwu.
During interrogation, the couple reportedly confessed to purchasing two children from one Okpalaye Mathew Ibrahim, believed to be a hospital employee, for ₦1.1 million each, with an additional ₦100,000 registration fee, bringing the total amount to ₦2.3 million.
“It could be recalled that on November 5, 2025, at about 5pm, one Victoria Ebunoha Chukwumezie, 40, of Nyanya, Abuja, was arrested at Diko Junction with three abducted children aged 2–3 years from the Lambata area,” the police statement read. Preliminary findings linked her to similar offenses in Tafa, Suleja, and Madalla.
Further investigations led police operatives to Kurudu on November 11, where the Ugochukwu couple was arrested. Two additional trafficked children Goodnews Sunday (4) and Ummikari Bello (3) were found in their residence in the Orozo area of Abuja.
“The suspects are in custody and investigative efforts are ongoing to apprehend others connected to the case and recover additional trafficked children,” Abiodun confirmed.
In a separate development, the command reported another incident involving the alleged movement of abducted minors.
On November 16, operatives arrested Usman Adamu, 40, of Sabon-Wuse, Tafa, after he was found with four children Khalid Ilyasu (7), Sadiq Ilyasu (11), Ahmed Ilyasu (5), and Sadiq Idris (5) around Angwan-Katampe. Adamu reportedly claimed that an unidentified woman had asked him to obtain the children in exchange for a reward.
Police officers intervened to prevent mob action and evacuated both the suspect and the children to the station. Adamu is currently under investigation, while efforts to identify and apprehend the said woman are ongoing.
This incident follows the recent rescue of 23 foreign nationals in Nasarawa State, who were allegedly deceived into entering Nigeria with false promises of lucrative employment.
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