The Niger Police Command has rescued nine children suspected to be victims of child trafficking and arrested two suspects in separate operations aimed at dismantling trafficking networks in the state.
The operations, carried out by operatives of the Madalla and Kpakungu Divisions, led to the rescue of six girls aged between seven and 13 years along the Madalla–Suleja Road and three others in Minna.
Confirming the arrests on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Wasiu Abiodun, said the first suspect, Dauda Ayuba of Senchi village in Paikoro Local Government Area, was intercepted while transporting the six children.
According to the police, investigations revealed that Ayuba travelled from Benin City, Edo State, at the request of a woman identified as Iyee and two other accomplices who remain at large.
He allegedly confessed to receiving ₦194,000 for transportation and logistics and admitted the children were being taken for domestic work, street trading and other forms of child labour.
Police said Ayuba deceived the children’s parents by claiming he was taking them to school. He also admitted he was to receive ₦10,000 monthly commission for each child, while the children would be paid ₦20,000 as wages.
In a separate operation, officers arrested Mary Anthony, 37, in the Gurara area of Minna with three girls aged between eight and 10 years.
Anthony told investigators that the children had been entrusted to her by their parents in Kaduna to be taken to an orphanage in Suleja. However, the police said inconsistencies in her account raised suspicion, leading to her arrest.
Both suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigation, while the rescued children have been placed in protective custody and their parents contacted.
The police added that efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the suspected trafficking syndicates and ensure they are brought to justice.