Parents on edge as Bauchi becomes a hotspot for child trafficking

Bauchi, a place once known for its peace and safety, is now facing a growing danger: child trafficking. Reports from DAILY POST show that criminals are tricking families and taking children from their homes.
In one scary situation, a woman who had only lived in a neighborhood for five days was able to steal three children, showing just how easily traffickers can operate. This incident has left parents in Bauchi feeling worried and scared for their kids’ safety.
The scary day when children went missing
It was an ordinary day on Monday, December 17, 2024, when three children disappeared from a home in the Gwallameji area of Bauchi. The woman who took them had only been in the area for five days.
“She seemed harmless,” said Maryam Habibu, whose 6-year-old daughter, Nana Khadija, was one of the missing children.
The woman had rented a room in the same compound and had made friends with the children by buying them snacks and promising gifts. She told the kids she would take them to the market, but instead, she vanished with them.
Nana’s mom, Maryam, shared that her daughter, who had recently come first in class, was promised a special gift.
“She said she would buy Nana a gift for coming first, and even bought snacks for the children,” Maryam said. “But then she disappeared with them.”
Khadija, who was usually careful around strangers, was tricked by the woman’s kindness.
“She used to tell us when she was going out, but that day she didn’t,” Maryam recalled.
The families were shocked and scared as they realized the kids were gone. For 21 long days, they searched everywhere, hoping to find them.
“There was a day when I looked at my other children, and Nana’s absence hit me so hard—I just started crying,” Maryam said, her voice heavy with emotion.
A father’s heartbreak
Abdulkadir Salisu, another parent whose child was taken, was devastated when he learned his daughter was also missing. The woman had promised to buy a school bag and balls for the kids.
“She told them she was taking them to buy their gifts, but when the women in the house went looking, they found out she had taken them without telling anyone,” Salisu explained.
Salisu was away at the time, and when he returned, neighbors were already frantically searching for the missing kids.
“We looked everywhere but couldn’t find them. We then went to the police station to report it,” Salisu said.
The search lasted 21 days, until finally, the children were found far away in Anambra State, nearly 700 kilometers from Bauchi.
“It was a nightmare,” Salisu said. “We didn’t know where our kids were or when they would come back.”
A mother’s plea for safety
Just like the other parents, Habbaratu Isa was also heartbroken when her 4-year-old son went missing. The woman had stayed in their neighborhood for just a few days, but Habbaratu didn’t think anything was wrong at first.
“I didn’t think anything was wrong at first,” Habbaratu said. “But when I went to the market and couldn’t find him, panic set in.”
After searching the area with no luck, Habbaratu and other parents went to the police.
“I felt so sad waking up without seeing my son with me,” Habbaratu said. “The shock was too much. I can’t shake out the fear. I don’t know how she convinced him to go with her. Only God brought them back.”
Since her son’s return, Habbaratu has taken extra precautions to keep him safe.
“Now, I never let him go anywhere without me or someone I trust,” she said. “I’ll either take him myself or have my sister go with him.”
Police rescue mission
Thanks to the hard work of the Bauchi and Anambra State Police, along with help from the Office of the First Lady and the Gender-Based Violence Committee, the three abducted children were rescued and returned home on January 7, 2025.
Bauchi State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Auwal Musa, spoke about the success of the operation.
“The children were found along with some suspects, although the main person is still on the run,” he said.
Investigations revealed that one of the children had been sold for N2 million.
A growing problem
Sadly, this is not the first time children have been stolen from Bauchi. In 2023, traffickers had also abducted children and sold them to buyers in Kano.
The children’s names were changed before the police in Kano were able to stop the trafficking ring.
A new law to protect children
Worried about the rise in child trafficking, the governor of Bauchi, Bala Mohammed, signed a new law on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, to help protect children from abduction.
The law requires landlords to check the backgrounds of people renting homes, community leaders to know who’s living in their area, and transport companies to be careful about who is traveling with children.
The Governor emphasized how important it is for everyone to work together to protect kids.
“I urge parents to remain vigilant and call on communities to take collective responsibility in protecting our children,” he said.
He also warned that anyone who breaks the law will face serious consequences.
“We believe these steps will make Bauchi safer for our children and for everyone who lives here,” Governor Bala said.