The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued more than 180 children allegedly trafficked from vulnerable communities across five states and uncovered a suspected child trafficking network operating under the guise of humanitarian and educational assistance.
NAPTIP spokesman Vincent Adekoye said on Monday that three children allegedly taken from vulnerable families in Kajuru, Kaduna State, were recovered from a private building in Onitsha, Anambra State. Another child was recovered from a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha, who was arrested over the alleged purchase of the child for 771,000 naira.
NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu Bello said the investigation showed that suspected traffickers targeted communities affected by insecurity, offering parents promises of education and welfare for their children before allegedly moving and selling them. She warned that criminal elements may be exploiting the credibility of legitimate civil society organisations to gain access to vulnerable families.
The agency said a Special Squad established to investigate missing and trafficked children had uncovered links involving communities in Benue and Nasarawa, orphanages and individuals suspected of facilitating illegal child transfers. NAPTIP has launched a manhunt for other suspects and urged parents, community leaders and legitimate civil society groups to report suspicious schemes involving the relocation or custody of children.
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