Police rescue six children from human trafficking syndicate in Niger State

… couple arrested

By Wole Mosadomi, Minna

Minna – The Niger State Police Command has rescued six children from a human trafficking syndicate operating in different parts of the state over the past month. Among the suspects apprehended is a couple found with two of the trafficked children.

In a recent operation, police operatives attached to Tafa Division intercepted Usman Adamu, 40, of Sabon-Wuse, who was seen with four children around Angwan-Katampe. The children—Khalid Ilyasu, 7; Sadiq Ilyasu, 11; Ahmed Ilyasu, 5; and Sadiq Idris, 5—are all from Sabon-Wuse.

Residents who gathered at the scene reportedly attempted to attack the suspect, but police quickly intervened, rescuing both the suspect and the children and taking them into custody.

The Public Relations Officer of the Niger State Police Command, Superintendent of Police Wasiu Abiodun, confirmed the incident. He stated that during interrogation, Usman Adamu revealed that an unidentified woman had asked him to procure the children, promising him a financial reward. The suspect is under further investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Minna, and police are working to identify and apprehend the woman.

In a related development, a couple—Leonard Ugochukwu, 55, and Nhozi Ugochukwu, 45, residents of Kurudu, Abuja—were arrested for abducting two children, Goodnews Sunday, 4, and Ummikari Bello, 3. The children were reportedly sold at N1.1 million each, with a registration fee of N100,000, totaling N2.3 million.

The couple disclosed that they acquired the children through one Okpalaye Mathew Ibrahim, who works at a hospital in the area. Police confirmed that investigations are ongoing to identify other suspects and recover additional trafficked children.

The rescue follows a previous arrest of Victoria Ebunoha Chukwumezie, 40, of Nyanya, Abuja, who was apprehended at Diko Junction with three children abducted from Lambata, Niger State. Investigations revealed she had been involved in similar activities in Tafa, Suleja, and Madalla, eventually leading police operatives to Kurudu, Abuja, on November 11, 2025, where the Ugochukwu couple was arrested.

Superintendent Abiodun assured the public that the command remains committed to dismantling human trafficking networks and ensuring the safe return of abducted children.

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