The Nigerian Police Force in Sokoto State has rescued 20 children and arrested 10 suspects involved in a child trafficking ring.
The state Commissioner of Police, Ali Kaigama, made this announcement during a press briefing at the command headquarters on Thursday.
Among the suspects is Bala Abubakar from the Tudun Wada area of Sokoto. Abubakar allegedly handed over 28 children, including six of his own, to traffickers. The children were reportedly given to Kulu Dongoyaro and Elizabeth Ojah for amounts ranging from N150,000 to N250,000. The suspects claimed that the children were being sent to an Abuja-based NGO that would take care of their needs.
Kaigama expressed his concern over the situation, stating, “We have arrested 10 suspects connected to this case, including Bala Abubakar, who gave out a total of 28 children. This is a serious crime, and we are committed to bringing all those involved to justice.”
In addition to the child trafficking case, the police also arrested Saifullah Hassan from Gunmi Local Government Area in Zamfara State. Hassan is accused of murdering Balikisu Garba at the Ifeoma Hotel in Sokoto. The crime was reported by the hotel manager, Mr. John, who found Garba’s body on May 24, 2024.
“Upon receiving the report, our operatives from the Old Airport Division quickly acted. They recovered the suspect’s abandoned bag containing receipts and SIM cards, which led us to identify and eventually arrest Saifullah Hassan in Funtua, Katsina State,” Kaigama explained.
The police also successfully rescued Barrister Rukayat, who had been kidnapped in the Bado area of the state. The rescue operation involved collaboration between the Yabo Division, the military, and the local vigilante group. The team followed footprints towards a forest near the Binji axis, where they encountered the kidnappers.
Kaigama elaborated on the operation, saying, “Our team traced the kidnappers to a forest. During the confrontation, one suspect was neutralized, another was fatally injured, and we recovered 10 rounds of live ammunition, two solar panels, a Tecno mobile phone, and a blanket. Three victims, including Barrister Rukayat, were safely rescued.”
Commissioner Kaigama thanked the state governor, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, for his unwavering support throughout these investigations. He also reassured the residents of Sokoto that the police command is dedicated to maintaining law and order.
He called on the public to continue cooperating with the police, emphasizing the importance of community support in ensuring a safer environment for all. “We urge the good people of Sokoto to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the authorities. Together, we can create a safer community,” Kaigama said.
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