The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued eight children suspected to have been stolen from Kano and other northern states, and trafficked to the South–South and Southeast regions of Nigeria.
The children were found in a privately owned orphanage in Asaba, Delta State, operated by a member of the Association of Orphanage Operators in Nigeria.
The operation, which was intelligence-driven, was conducted with the support of operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Anambra State, the Nigeria Police in Delta State, the Kano State Government through its Ministry of Women Affairs, civil society groups in Kano, and parents of the affected children.
Concerns over child trafficking in northern states date back to 2017, when parents raised alarms about syndicates luring children mainly between ages two and ten from communities and trafficking them to other regions.
Investigations revealed that the traffickers often disguised themselves as traders or temporary residents, gradually gaining children’s trust before abducting them. Others reportedly operated from motor parks and terminals, targeting unaccompanied children on errands or heading to school.
By 2022, over 25 more children were allegedly trafficked by the same syndicate, sparking public outcry.
The group, Protection Against the Abduction and Missing of Our Children (PATAMOOC), petitioned NAPTIP in December 2022, demanding urgent intervention.
The petition, signed on behalf of more than 200 distressed parents, lamented the trauma, hospitalizations, and even deaths linked to the prolonged disappearance of children.
In response, NAPTIP launched discreet investigations that led to coordinated operations in Anambra and Delta States. While the syndicate evaded capture in Awka by relocating children overnight, operatives in Asaba successfully rescued eight children.
Reports revealed that more than 70 children, including about 15 newborns, were housed in the orphanage, but only eight were confirmed as stolen from Kano.
The Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello described the development as disturbing, warning that some orphanages have become havens for stolen children. “Imagine over 70 children in one orphanage, with the number increasing daily.
The big question is: where are these children coming from?” she asked.
Bello explained that the rescued children have since been handed over to the Kano State Government and reunited with their families.
She added that the orphanage operator, who is now wanted for questioning, has been evading authorities while spreading misinformation on social media. “We have asked him to report to our Kano Zonal Command for investigation.
Instead, he is hiding behind social media to mislead the public with false narratives,” she said.
The NAPTIP boss emphasized the need for state Ministries of Women Affairs across Nigeria to intensify oversight on orphanages and care homes.
“We are worried about the unhealthy activities of these so-called orphanages. NAPTIP will continue to monitor them in line with the Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organisations and Centres) Regulations 2019,” she stressed.Commending the DSS, Police, Kano State Government, and civil society partners for their collaboration, Bello reaffirmed NAPTIP’s resolve to protect vulnerable children and ensure traffickers are brought to justice.
“This operation underscores our determination to combat child trafficking, safeguard innocent lives, and ensure justice is served,” she said.
Written by Niran Odufayo