The Niger State Police Command has arrested 11 people suspected of involvement in a child-trafficking network operating across Niger, Nasarawa and the Abuja axis. The arrests follow ongoing investigations into a case initially linked to one Mrs. Victoria Ebunoha Chukwumezie, who was apprehended early in November.
Police spokesperson Wasiu Abiodun confirmed that three additional children were recently rescued, alongside the arrest of three more suspects: Chioma Onyanja, Joy Ndife and Olusegun Isaiah Anjorin. All were traced to different locations within Abuja and Nasarawa State.
According to the police, the three rescued children — Saifullahi Abdulmumini (five months), Possible Danlami (four years) and Safiya Mamman Sani (one year, six months) — were taken from the Gajere and Tafa areas around September.
Abiodun explained that the children were found in the homes of individuals who allegedly bought or received them through the trafficking ring. One suspect claimed she obtained a baby for N2.7 million through a pastor who said the child was offered for adoption. Another suspect, who runs an unregistered orphanage, reportedly planned to resell the child she received. A third suspect confessed to paying N1 million for a baby presented as abandoned.
The police confirmed that all three children were rescued unharmed and reunited with their families. This brings the total number of recovered children in the ongoing investigation to nine, with 11 suspects now in custody.
The rescued children include:
• Muhammadu Hussaini – 4 years
• Kasimu Saidu – 4 years
• Idris Saidu – 2 years
• Ummi Kairi Salisu – 3 years
• Goodnews Sunday – 4 years
• Rahmat Mohammed – 2 years
• Saifullahi Abdulmumini – 5 months
• Safiya Mamman Sani – 1 year, 6 months
• Possible Danlami – 4 years
The suspects currently held by the police are:
Victoria Chukwumezie, Harrieta Obiakor, Divine Sunday, Rosemary Ogbulogo, Vincent Emmanuel, Rose Nwabufor, Chioma Onyanja, Joy Ndife, Olusegun Isaiah Anjorin, Leo Ugochukwu and Ngozi Ugochukwu.
The police say investigations are continuing to track down other members of the network and locate additional missing children.
