NSCDC Rescues 15 Trafficked Children, Recovers Stolen Rifles and Breaks Up Telecom Vandalism Syndicate

Nigeria’s civil defence authorities say they rescued 15 children, recovered three stolen service rifles and dismantled an interstate syndicate targeting telecommunications infrastructure in a series of intelligence-led operations.

The Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad began investigating the child-trafficking case after receiving a petition about missing children in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. According to NSCDC spokesman Assistant Commandant Babawale Afolabi, investigators identified a syndicate allegedly led by Anderson Archibong, who posed as an official of a supposed “Back to School Project” operating under the National Council of Child Rights Advocate.

Afolabi said the group exploited low-income parents and allegedly sold 16 children taken in January 2026 for N2 million each. Operations along transit routes in Anambra, Imo, Enugu and other eastern corridors led to the rescue of 15 children. Three alleged buyers, Joy Julius, Ngozi and Eze Lazarus, were arrested and reportedly confessed to involvement. Authorities are still searching for the remaining child.

In a separate arms investigation, operatives traced a missing AK-47 rifle to CAII Igah Ameh James, an NSCDC officer assigned to the Commandant General’s Crack Squad. Investigators allege that James abandoned his post, took the rifle to Otukpo in Benue State and sold it to Abakpa Simon Anthony for N700,000. Anthony allegedly resold it to Sunday Akor, also known as IBB, for N800,000. The rifle and two empty magazines were recovered after the suspects’ arrests.

An armoury audit in Adamawa State also led to the arrest of former armoury head ASCI Peter Ardo and CCA Boniface Lawyer. The corps said Ardo allegedly removed two unserviceable G3 rifles from the armoury between 2018 and 2024 and sold them to Lawyer. The operations formed part of Commandant General Ahmed Audi’s stated zero-tolerance policy on crime, corruption and damage to national assets.

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Through intelligence-led operations across transit routes, 15 of the 16 children were successfully rescued in Anambra, Imo, Enugu and other eastern transit corridors.