Police rescue 59 trafficked children in Abuja, apprehend suspects
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has apprehended a child trafficking syndicate while rescuing 59 children in the process.
The FCT Police Commissioner, Olatunji Disu, paraded the suspects before newsmen at the police command headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to him, the police Patrol and Guard unit rescued the children along the Abuja-Kano route at about 3:30 pm on January 6.
The children aged between 4-12 were being conveyed in a white Peugeot 15-seater bus with registration number KMC 283 ZJ.
Ali Ibrahim, driver of the bus who hails from Kano State along with his assistant, Alhassan Ibrahim, were arrested on the spot.
“On January 6, 2025, at about 1530 hours, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sarki Umar intercepted a white Peugeot 15 bus with Reg. No. KMC 283 ZJ along the Abuja-Kano route. The vehicle was driven by ALI IBRAHIM, a male resident of Kano State, accompanied by his motor boy, AL HASSAN IBRAHIM, also of Kano State.
“The bus was found to be transporting 59 male children aged between 4 to 12 years. Preliminary investigations revealed that the children, who came from different families, were being transported by one Idris Usman, a male resident of Nasarawa State.
“He allegedly travelled to Kano State to convene the children en route to Nasarawa State under the pretext of training them,” Disu narrated to Journalists.
The Commissioner revealed that the case is now classed under suspected child abuse and trafficking.
He noted that the suspects could not provide proper documentation or evidence of parental consent to back up thier transporting of the minors in question.
“At present, the suspects, the vehicle, and all the children are in custody while a thorough investigation is underway. The Police Command is working closely with the FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS) to ensure that the children are safely reunited with their families and to bring all those involved in this act to justice,” he went on.
While calling on parents and guardians alike to be very observant of their wards and try to keep them out of harm’s way, he assured that the Police will continually ensure that groups involved in the exploitation and abuse of children are thwarted.
