The Kaduna State government has announced the rescue of 13 children allegedly abducted and sold to child traffickers in the South-East of Nigeria.
The children, who were reportedly taken by a syndicate operating across several states, have now been placed under the care and protection of the Ministry of Human Services and Social Development.
Speaking to journalists in Kaduna, the State Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, revealed shocking details of the operation that led to the recovery of the children.
According to her, the children were first moved to Abuja by the traffickers and subsequently transported to Enugu State.
“One of the abducted children was stolen when the child was seven days old and now, that same child is seven-years-old,” Daily Trust quoted Salisu as saying.
“The children cannot identify their locations, but the authorities will do everything humanly possible to ensure that all the children are reunited with their family members.”
She added that the children’s identities were completely altered. “All of them have their names changed from Hausa to other names.
“Those brought to Kaduna are under the special intervention and emergency support of the government under the ministry’s facility to provide psychosocial counselling and support, nutritional food, medical care, and rehabilitation.”
Recounting the timeline of the rescue, Salisu stated, “Upon review of the situation in one of the scenarios after the arrest made, on 24th March, 2025, the ministry received 11 children from the office of the state Commissioner of Police from Abuja.”
According to her, five members of the kidnapping syndicate have been apprehended.
They disclosed that the ringleader operates an orphanage in Abuja, which is allegedly used as a front to temporarily house abducted children before selling them.
“She uses her orphanage as temporary shelter for the stolen children and negotiates for their sale to prospective buyers in the eastern part of the country,” Salisu explained.
“This evil act is so alarming that all the children found and brought back have lost their identities so much that they can’t remember their original homes.”
Further details revealed that seven children were received on April 9, 2025, from the state Commissioner of Police’s office.
Six additional children were rescued from Birnin Kebbi after being sold to a woman identified as “Maman Salamatu” in Calabar.
The woman’s real name remains undisclosed as investigations are ongoing in Kebbi State.
Salisu urged parents who had lost children to come forward with verifiable proof of birth and other identifying information.
She also appealed to parents across the country to remain vigilant and committed to instilling strong moral values in their children.
“Parents should be vigilant, imbibe the culture of good parenting, and nurture their children with good moral upbringing to protect them against all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation,” she advised.
One of the reunited parents, Ali Adamu, whose daughter Maryam was abducted two months ago in Kogi State, expressed gratitude to the authorities.
“I thank the ministry and all other government agencies for reuniting me with my daughter,” he said.
“He also encouraged fellow parents to “be watchful over their children so they do not go through the trauma of losing a child.”
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