The Niger State Police Command has successfully rescued six children who were victims of a sophisticated child stealing and human trafficking operation. The breakthrough came after intensive investigations into the syndicate's activities across Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory.
Major Breakthrough in Child Trafficking Case
According to Police Public Relations Officer SP Wasiu Abiodun, the operation began on November 5, 2025, when officers arrested Victoria Ebunoha Chukwumezie, a 40-year-old woman from Nyanya, Abuja. She was intercepted at Diko Junction with three children aged between 2-3 years who had been abducted from the Lambata area of Niger State.
During preliminary investigations, police discovered that the suspect had been involved in similar criminal activities in Tafa, Suleja, and Madalla areas. This information prompted deeper investigation into what appeared to be an organized trafficking network.
Follow-up Operation Leads to More Arrests
In a coordinated follow-up operation on November 11, 2025, police operatives from the State Criminal Investigation Department in Minna moved to the Kurudu area of Abuja. The operation led to the arrest of a married couple identified as Leonard Ugochukwu, 55, and Ngozi Ugochukwu, 45, both residents of Kurudu, Abuja.
The couple was found with two trafficked children in their residence at Orozo area of Kurudu: Goodnews Sunday, 4 years, and Ummikari Bello, 3 years. During interrogation, the suspects revealed they acquired the children through Okpalaye Mathew Ibrahim, who works at a hospital in the same area.
The Ugochukwu couple confessed to purchasing the two children for N1.3 million each, with an additional registration fee of N100,000, bringing the total transaction to N2.3 million.
Additional Child Rescue Operation
In a separate but related incident on November 16, 2025, police received reports about Usman Adamu, 40, from Sabon-Wuse, Tafa, who was spotted with four children around Angwan-Katampe under suspicious circumstances.
Police operatives from Tafa Division quickly mobilized to the scene and rescued the four children identified as: Khalid Ilyasu, 7 years; Sadiq Ilyasu, 11 years; Ahmed Ilyasu, 5 years; and Sadiq Idris, 5 years, all from Sabon-Wuse.
The situation attracted a large mob, but police officers successfully protected both the suspect and the children, transporting them safely to the police station. During interrogation, Adamu confessed that an unidentified woman had requested him to procure the children in exchange for a reward.
Ongoing Investigation and Future Actions
All suspects are currently in police custody while investigative efforts continue to apprehend other members connected to the trafficking syndicate. The police are particularly focused on locating Okpalaye Mathew Ibrahim, the hospital worker who allegedly facilitated the sale of children, and the unidentified woman who commissioned Usman Adamu to acquire children.
The Niger State Police Command has assured the public that they are intensifying efforts to dismantle the entire trafficking network and recover any other children who may have been victimized by the syndicate. The successful rescue operations demonstrate the commitment of Nigerian law enforcement to combatting child trafficking and protecting vulnerable children across the country.
