The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued eight children believed to have been abducted from northern Nigeria and trafficked to the south. The children were found during a raid on a well-known orphanage in Asaba, the capital of Delta State.
NAPTIP’s spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, said the operation was carried out in collaboration with the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Police, and local civil society organizations. He explained that the raid followed years of complaints from parents in Kano and neighboring states regarding missing children. According to the agency, criminal syndicates often pose as traders to lure children between the ages of two and ten from their communities, moving them to southern states where they disappear overnight.
“Some syndicates briefly settle in a community, become familiar with the children, and then transport them away,” the statement read. “Others operate from parks and transport hubs, luring unaccompanied children on their way to school or errands.”
During the Asaba operation, over 70 children were discovered in the orphanage, including about 15 newborns. Out of these, eight were confirmed as abducted from Kano and have since been reunited with their families. NAPTIP Director General Binta Bello said the identification was made through photographs and other distinguishing features provided by representatives of the affected parents. “We are seriously concerned about the activities of some orphanages and care homes. With over 70 children in this facility alone, the question remains: where are these children from?” Bello asked.
The agency highlighted that cases of child abduction in northern states peaked in 2022, prompting public outcry and intervention by civil society organizations. Parents of affected children have described the ordeal as traumatic, with some reporting severe emotional distress and hospitalization due to the uncertainty surrounding the fate of their children.
Adekoye stated that intelligence-led operations in Anambra and Delta States led to the successful rescue in Asaba, following an unsuccessful attempt in Awka, where the syndicate had moved children to an unknown location overnight. He commended the DSS, police, and civil society partners for their cooperation, emphasizing that the operation reflects NAPTIP’s commitment to combating child trafficking and ensuring the protection of vulnerable children.
Bello also criticized the orphanage operator for avoiding investigation and allegedly spreading false information on social media instead of cooperating with authorities.
“Operatives met the owner’s wife during the raid, but she was not arrested as she was not the target. Contact information was left for the owner to report to NAPTIP,” she said.
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