The Adamawa State Government has successfully reunited 14 children who were rescued from human traffickers in Anambra State. The children, aged between four and nine, were sold for paltry sums ranging from N800,000 to N1.7 million each. The state government, led by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, represented by his deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, handed over the children to their families in a ceremony held at the Government House in Yola.
According to Farauta, the suspect behind the trafficking, Ngozi Abdulwahab, a middle-aged woman of Igbo extraction, operated from a small provision shop in Jambutu ward, Yola North Local Government Area. She allegedly lured unsuspecting children with snacks and gifts before trafficking them to the Southeast for resale. The deputy governor described the crime as “monstrous and traumatic,” vowing that the culprits would be brought to justice.
The state government has ordered the immediate prosecution of the suspects under relevant laws, including the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, the Adamawa State Child Protection Law (2008), the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, 2021, and the Penal Code of Adamawa State. Farauta warned parents against negligence and urged them not to send children under the age of 10 on errands or to school unaccompanied.
The rescue operation was launched after intelligence reports in July 2025 revealed a string of missing children in Adamawa State. Security operatives, including the police, the Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, worked together to track down the traffickers and rescue the children. The children were eventually traced to Anambra State, where they were recovered and brought back to Adamawa.
Each of the 14 families whose children were rescued received N100,000 cash support, as well as food and non-food items, to cushion the impact of their ordeal and help set up small businesses. Farauta appealed to parents to be more vigilant and responsible in caring for their children, describing them as “sacred blessings from God.” She also encouraged members of the public to report suspicious activities promptly to security agencies to curb the menace of trafficking.
Governor Fintiri’s message of zero tolerance for child trafficking was delivered by Farauta, who stated that Adamawa State is the wrong place for human traffickers and their accomplices. “We shall flush them out, dismantle their networks, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Our citizens are our most cherished assets and must never be turned into commodities of trade,” she declared.
The reunion of the 14 trafficked children with their families is a welcome development, but it also highlights the need for continued vigilance and action to prevent child trafficking in Nigeria. The Adamawa State Government’s commitment to prosecuting traffickers and supporting victims is a step in the right direction. As the state government works to rebuild the lives of the rescued children and their families, it is essential to address the root causes of child trafficking and ensure that children are protected from exploitation.
