Adamawa Government Rescues 14 Children Sold in Anambra for Up to N1.7m

Fourteen children trafficked from Adamawa State and sold in Anambra for amounts between N800,000 and N1.7 million have been rescued and reunited with their families by the Adamawa State Government.

At a ceremony held on Wednesday, August 20, in Yola, the state capital, Deputy Governor Kaletapwa George Farauta confirmed that the rescue followed reports of missing children in July. She said the government launched a joint operation with security agencies to track the culprits, leading to the arrest of one suspect, identified as Ngozi Abdulwahab, who allegedly ran a trafficking network.

According to Farauta, Abdulwahab, who owns a small provision shop in Jambutu Ward, Yola North LGA, lured children aged four to nine with snacks and gifts before transporting them to Anambra, where they were sold.

“It is a mixed feeling of sadness and joy,” the deputy governor said. “It is sad that Adamawa is now on the map of an unfortunate monster ravaging the nation, the monster of child trafficking. This is a story we often hear happening far away, but unfortunately, it has caught up with us. Today, we have rescued 14 children and rehabilitated them.”

Farauta added that the suspect would face prosecution under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act 2015, the Adamawa Child Protection Law 2008, the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law 2021, and the Penal Code of the state.

She also announced that each rescued child’s family would receive N100,000 in support, along with food and non-food items.