Kano Police Command has successfully dismantled a child trafficking syndicate that specialized in the abduction and sale of children from the Northern Region, fetching no less than N300,000 for each victim in the Southern States.
The operation, which spanned Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Maiduguri, and other areas, resulted in the arrest of nine suspects, primarily women, who were apprehended in possession of stolen children.
Police Commissioner Muhammad Usaini Gumel addressed the media on Thursday, revealing that the rampant issue of human trafficking, particularly the buying and selling of children, had raised serious concerns in Kano and neighboring regions.
In response, the police intensified intelligence efforts, leading to the identification and tracking down of a major trafficking network.
Gumel disclosed that the syndicate was operating across Bauchi, Gombe, Delta, and other locations. The arrests yielded seven kidnapped children, all stolen months earlier.
He stated, “We first tracked down a boy at Mariri Motor pack with some non-indigent persons who didn’t understand his language, and after arresting them, we traced all other seven persons in connection with the kidnapping of seven other children.”
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Among the rescued children, a boy named Muhammad Illiya had his identity changed to Chidiebere and was sold for N450,000. Another child, Muhammad Bulyaminu, was recovered from Sabon Gari Kano and sold at the same price. Chiameka, abducted at birth, was sold for N350,000, with her parents still unidentified.
The Police Commissioner said another Muhammad Illiya, stolen at the age of 3 and now 5, was rescued from Nnewi, Anambra State, having lost the ability to speak his mother tongue, and was sold for N500,000.
The suspects arrested in connection with child trafficking include Chika Ezugu (53), Joy (43), Clemente Ali (35), Emeka Ekedugwu (55), Berut Yarima (45) from Bauchi, Ndama Obi from Nnewi, and Ebere Emmubu.
Commissioner Gumel disclosed that when the Police placed an announcement for the parents of the boy they came all away from Bauchi and identified their son.
“The Police have imposed security measures to tackle the new Wave of security challenges in Kano and environ and we have neutralized many kidnap networks. Nine gang members were arrested in possession of many kidnapped persons who have been reunited with their families,” he revealed.