Police rescue six trafficked children in Niger

Niger State Police Command has rescued six children allegedly sold by a trafficking ring operating between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory.

Three of the children were reportedly abducted from the Lambata area before investigators traced the suspected traffickers to Kurudu in Abuja, where a couple, Leonard Ugochukwu and Ngozi Ugochukwu, were arrested.

According to the police, the couple admitted to purchasing two of the children from one Okpalaye Mathew Ibrahim, said to be a hospital worker, for N1.3 million.

Police spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed the development in a statement on Wednesday, noting that efforts were ongoing to apprehend additional members of the syndicate.

“It could be recalled that on November 5, 2025, at about 5pm, one Victoria Ebunoha Chukwumezie, 40 years of Nyanya, Abuja, was arrested at Diko Junction with three children of ages 2-3 years abducted from Lambata area of Niger State, while preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect has committed similar acts in Tafa, Suleja, and Madalla,” the statement read.

Abiodun added that further investigation led detectives to Kurudu on November 11, where the couple was arrested.

“In a follow-up investigative effort, the suspect led police operatives of SCID Minna to Kurudu area of Abuja on November 11, 2025 and two additional suspects were arrested, who are Leonard Ugochukwu 55 years, and Ngozi Ugochukwu 45 years, both who are husband/wife residing in Kurudu, Abuja,” he said.

He confirmed that the couple was found with two trafficked children — Goodnews Sunday, aged four, and Ummikari Bello, aged three, in their home in Orozo.

He stated, “The two suspects were arrested with two suspected trafficked children, one Goodnews Sunday, 4yrs and Ummikari Bello, 3yrs in their residence at Orozo area of Kurudu, Abuja.

“During interrogation, they claimed that they got the children through the intervention of one Okpalaye Mathew Ibrahim, who works in a hospital in the same area.”

The statement further revealed their confession regarding the amount paid.

“The suspects confessed that Mathew sold the two children to them at the rate of N1.1m each with a registration fee of N100,000 totalling N2.3m.

“The suspects are in custody and investigative efforts are still ongoing to arrest other suspects connected to the case and the recovery of other trafficked children,” Abiodun stated.

He also reported another unrelated incident involving a man suspected of transporting abducted minors.

“Similarly, on November 16, 2025, at about 2.40pm, reports received indicated that one Usman Adamu 40 years of Sabon-Wuse, Tafa, was sighted with four children around Angwan-Katampe, suspected to have been abducted.

“Police operatives attached to Tafa Div mobilised to the scene and said Usman was found with four children; Khalid Ilyasu, 7yrs, Sadiq Ilyasu, 11yrs, Ahmed Ilyasu, 5yrs and Sadiq Idris, 5yrs, all of Sabon-Wuse,” he said.

Abiodun added that the suspect claimed someone had instructed him to bring the children.

“This attracted a large mob, but the police operatives were able to rescue the suspect and the children to the police station.

“In the course of interrogation, he confessed that a yet to be unidentified woman had requested him to get the children for her and he would be rewarded.

“The suspect is under further investigation in SCID Minna and efforts to identify and arrest the said woman are in progress,” he said.

On November 1, PUNCH Online reported that no less than 23 foreign nationals held hostage by a kidnapping and human trafficking syndicate in Nasarawa State were rescued by the police.

The spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Police Command, Josephine Adeh, said the victims were lured into the country with promises of lucrative jobs.