Human Trafficking: NSCDC Rescues 15 Minors Sold for N2 Million
The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has rescued 15 minors allegedly trafficked and sold for N2 million each by a man who reportedly posed as an official of a child-rights organisation.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Corps Headquarters in Abuja.
Afolabi said the rescue was part of a wider operation targeting criminal syndicates involved in child trafficking, vandalism and other offences.
According to him, the suspect allegedly posed as an official of the National Council of Child Rights Advocate and deceived parents into releasing their children by promising them access to free education.
He said the suspect operated under the guise of an NGO and orphanage initiative known as the “Back to School Project.”
“Under the guise of operating an NGO and orphanage programme called the Back to School Project, he lured willing, less privileged parents into releasing their children with promises of free education,” Afolabi said.
The operation was carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), headed by Commander Dandaura Appollos.
Afolabi said 15 of the 16 children allegedly trafficked from Kama Madaki and Gudindi Mada communities in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State were eventually rescued from their alleged buyers.
He explained that intelligence gathering, field tracking and coordinated operations across several states enabled the operatives to locate the children.
“Through advanced field tracking, technical intelligence and multi-state tactical sweeps, operatives of the CG’s SIS tracked down the buyers who were from different locations in the country,” he said.
According to the NSCDC spokesman, three of the rescued minors were found in Anambra, Imo and Enugu states, while the remaining 12 were recovered during a coordinated operation along eastern transit routes.
The Corps also announced the arrest of three suspected buyers — one man and two women — in connection with the alleged trafficking.
In a related development, the NSCDC said stolen rifles and vandalised telecommunications equipment were also recovered during the wider operation.
The Corps said investigations were ongoing to uncover other members of the alleged trafficking network and establish the circumstances surrounding the missing child.
