Victims aged between 5 and 16 rescued in joint operation
The Kaduna State Police Command has confirmed the rescue of 17 children from a suspected human trafficking syndicate operating in the state. The operation, which led to the arrest of three suspects, was carried out following credible intelligence received by the command.
In a statement issued on Monday by the spokesperson of the command, ASP Mansir Hassan, the police said the victims—aged between five and sixteen years—were rescued from a transit house in the Rijana area of Kachia Local Government.
According to Hassan, the successful operation was the result of swift collaboration between the anti-human trafficking unit of the command and other local security networks.
“The command, acting on credible intelligence, conducted a well-coordinated operation in which 17 minors were rescued from the custody of suspected human traffickers,” he said. “Three suspects were arrested at the scene, and preliminary investigations have commenced.”
Police reveal how the children were trafficked
Hassan explained that early findings suggest the children were being transported from various rural communities in Kaduna, Katsina, and Zamfara States with the intention of being sent to other parts of the country for forced labour and possible exploitation.
He added that the traffickers operated under the guise of offering educational and employment opportunities to vulnerable families in rural areas.
“The suspects lured unsuspecting parents with false promises of better education and welfare for their children. However, our investigation revealed that these promises were fraudulent,” Hassan said.
The police spokesman assured the public that the victims were immediately handed over to the Kaduna State Ministry of Human Services and Social Development for medical checks, counselling, and proper rehabilitation.
Suspects in custody, investigation ongoing
While confirming the identities of the arrested suspects, Hassan disclosed that they were being interrogated at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Kaduna.
He noted that the police had also launched a manhunt for other accomplices believed to be linked to a wider trafficking network operating across northern Nigeria.
“The Commissioner of Police, CP Ali Audu Dabigi, has directed that the case be thoroughly investigated and that all perpetrators, regardless of their status, be brought to justice,” Hassan stated.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to tackling human trafficking, child labour, and related crimes, calling on residents to report suspicious movements to the nearest police station.
Government, NAPTIP commend police effort
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has commended the Kaduna Police Command for its quick intervention. A senior NAPTIP official in the state, who spoke to journalists, confirmed that the agency would take over the case once preliminary investigations are completed.
“We are proud of this successful rescue. This operation shows what can happen when law enforcement and the community work together,” the official said.
The Kaduna State Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hafsat Mohammed Baba, also lauded the police effort and pledged government support for the rehabilitation of the rescued children.
“These children have suffered psychological and physical trauma,” she said. “We are working to reunite them with their families and ensure such incidents do not happen again.”
Renewed call for vigilance
Human rights advocates have urged parents and community leaders to remain vigilant against traffickers who exploit poverty and ignorance to deceive families.
Dr. Zainab Sani, a child rights activist in Kaduna, said the rise in trafficking cases is “a symptom of worsening economic hardship and lack of awareness.”
She called for stronger community sensitisation programmes, especially in rural areas where traffickers often operate freely.
“Parents must verify anyone offering to take their children for schooling or work. Too often, these promises end in exploitation,” she warned.
As investigations continue, the Kaduna State Police Command has assured the public that it remains steadfast in its mission to make the state safer for all residents, especially children who are most vulnerable to such criminal networks.
