By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Reporter
THE ABUJA place has said that the alarming movement of minors across state lines have continued to raise serious questions about child safety and trafficking networks.
In Abuja, the Police says it has intercepted 59 boys, aged 4 to 12, suspected to be victims of human trafficking.
Meanwhile, in Lagos, two young girls are reported to have vanished during a carnival, leaving their families distraught.
On 6th January 2025, officers led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sarki Umar said they had stopped a white Peugeot bus with registration number KMC 283 ZJ along the Abuja-Kano route.
Found inside were 59 boys being transported without parental consent or proper documentation.
The driver, Ali Ibrahim, and his assistant, Al Hassan Ibrahim, were promptly taken into custody, along with a Nasarawa-based man, Idris Usman, who allegedly organised the transport.
Preliminary investigations also reveal that Usman travelled to Kano to gather the children under the guise of providing training in Nasarawa.
Speaking on the development, FCT Police Commissioner Olatunji Disu confirmed the ongoing investigation, stating, “The suspects, vehicle, and children are in custody.
“We are collaborating with the FCT Social Development Secretariat to reunite the children with their families and bring all involved to justice.”
Abductions in Lagos
IN LAGOS, a separate tragedy unfolded on 30th December 2024, during the Sansan Carnival in Igando, Alimosho Local Government Area.
Witnesses said that a mystery woman lured two girls, Ella Fadilat Ajomale, aged four, and Ashabi Rodiat Bamidele, aged two, under the pretext of sharing treats.
Also speaking, the landlord of the children’s residence, Prince Sulaimon Gbadamosi, added that the woman gained the children’s trust with biscuits and sweets before vanishing with them.
“She came during the carnival and called the children while pretending to send money for beer. She then disappeared with the kids,” Gbadamosi explained.
He said efforts to find the children have included police reports and appeals to the Onigando of Igando, Oba Lasisi Gbadamosi, but the children remain missing.
The Igando Police Division said it has launched a search for the woman, described as blending seamlessly into the carnival crowd.
The Police noted that so far, the incident has left the affected families inconsolable while residents urge authorities to increase security during public events and launch widespread campaigns against child trafficking and abductions.
Missing Persons Rising in Ogun State
THE GROWING crisis of missing persons in Nigeria has expanded to Ogun State, where the police have reported an unprecedented surge in disappearances across all age groups.
In a statement on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State Police spokesperson, CSP Omolola Odutola, highlighted the gravity of the situation.
She noted that while a small percentage of the missing have been found, the majority remain unaccounted for.
“This trend is alarming, and it underscores the need for everyone to prioritise their safety and maintain a heightened sense of security,” Odutola said.
Also, the Commissioner of Police, Lanre Ogunlowo, has rolled out safety measures to combat the rising cases.
He has urged parents to discourage their children from using commercial transport with strangers, and young people are advised to use mobile devices to share real-time locations or send distress signals during emergencies.
As part of the state’s community policing efforts, he said the Command is increasing public awareness and implementing proactive strategies to reduce the incidence of missing persons – these include collaborations with local communities and intensified surveillance, the CP said.
Odutola also stressed the importance of vigilance and community cooperation.
“The safety of every individual remains our top priority, and we will continue to work tirelessly to address this issue,” she said.
