The Gombe governor says dozens of toddlers have vanished in a disturbing wave of child theft, warning that tougher security steps are inevitable.
Governor Inuwa Yahaya has revealed that 48 children between the ages of two and five have been stolen from Gombe State and allegedly taken to unknown locations.
Speaking during the inauguration of Ramadan palliative distribution in Gombe, Yahaya said records show the children were taken out of the state, with uncertainty surrounding their fate. He cited a recent case at Orji Estate where a boy was abducted shortly after the motorcycle ban was relaxed but was later rescued.
The governor stressed that security is a collective responsibility and defended measures such as the motorcycle and scrap metal restrictions, saying they were introduced to curb crime, infrastructure vandalism and theft.
He lamented that critical assets, including facilities at the ₦26 billion Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park, have been vandalised. Electrical installations meant to transmit power from Dadin Kowa Dam to the park were reportedly tampered with.
On the Ramadan intervention, Yahaya said 70,000 vulnerable residents — including persons with disabilities, orphanages and religious groups — would receive food items such as rice, spaghetti, sugar and oil within three days. He urged transparency in the distribution process.
The governor called for stronger community cooperation to restore peace and prevent further child abductions and criminal activity in the state.
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