NSCDC rescues 15 minors sold for N2m each in Nasarawa

Nigeria’s civil defence corps says it rescued 15 minors allegedly trafficked from Nasarawa State after a suspected syndicate member promised their parents free education.

Babawale Afolabi, public relations officer for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, disclosed the operation at a briefing in Abuja. He said the suspect allegedly posed as an official of the National Council of Child Rights Advocate and persuaded less-privileged parents to hand over their children.

The suspect allegedly operated under the name of a supposed NGO and orphanage programme called the Back to School Project. Afolabi said the children were allegedly sold to buyers for 2 million naira each.

The Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, led by Commander Dandaura Appollos, tracked the alleged buyers through field surveillance, technical intelligence and coordinated operations across several states. The children came from Kama Madaki and Gudindi Mada communities in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State.

Three children were rescued in Anambra, Imo and Enugu states, while 12 others were recovered during a coordinated operation along eastern transit routes. Afolabi said three suspected buyers, one man and two women, were arrested. He said the corps would prosecute suspects found culpable after completing its investigation and maintained a zero-tolerance policy toward trafficking.

“

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.