KANO, Nigeria – In a harrowing case of child trafficking, the Kano State Police Command has dismantled a nine-member syndicate selling children from Kano for between N400,000 and N500,000 in Lagos, Anambra, and other Southern states.
Seven children, aged 3-8, were rescued from the clutches of the traffickers, who stole them as infants and often changed their names before selling them off.
Police Commissioner Mohammed Gumel announced the bust at the Bompai Police headquarters, highlighting the operation that led to the arrest of Comfort, caught attempting to traffic a five-year-old to Lagos at Mariri Luxurious Park. Her capture unraveled the wider network.
“In the area of human trafficking, including the buying and selling of minors, the Police Command has conducted several intelligence-led operations,” Gumel stated. “This led to the identification and dismantling of long-standing inter-state trafficking syndicates operating across Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Lagos, Delta, Anambra, and Imo states.”
The investigation revealed the intricate cycle of abduction, purchase, and sale within the syndicate. Four other suspects were apprehended in Kano: Ezugbu (52), Nzelu (43), Ali (35), and Ekeidigwe (55). The trafficked child from Zango Quarters, abducted in December from Bauchi, was sold to Obi (59) in Lagos, who in turn sold him to Eriobuna (59) in Nnewi for N480,000.
Two more members, Yarima (45) and Samuel (35), were arrested in Bauchi, while Obi and Eriobuna were apprehended in Lagos and Anambra respectively. This brought the total arrests to nine.
Investigators discovered another victim, Mohammed Iliya (5), abducted three years ago and sold for N500,000 in Nnewi under the name Chidebere. All rescued children, some unable to speak their native language due to assimilation, are receiving necessary care and support.
“This is part of our determination to ensure that Kano State remains a place where the rights and dignity of every individual are upheld,” declared Gumel.
This case sends a powerful message to child traffickers operating in Nigeria. The Kano Police’s swift action and dedication to dismantling these criminal networks offer hope for a future where vulnerable children are protected and perpetrators face justice.