With the intercept of a bus carrying 59 children for exploitation, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has achieved significant success in its fight against human trafficking.
A vehicle with a registration number was intercepted by a team of policemen led by deputy superintendent of police Sarki Umar. KMC 283 ZJ along the Abuja-Kano route on January 6.
According to Persecondnews, the rescued children range in age from 4 to 12 years old.
The vehicle’s driver, Ali Ibrahim, a resident of Kano State, and his assistant, Alhassan Ibrahim, were immediately arrested at the scene.
FCT Police Commissioner Tunji Disu addressed journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, claiming preliminary investigations revealed that the 59 rescued children from various Kano State families were being transported to Nasarawa State under the false pretense of receiving training.
He said: “On January 6, 2025, at about 1530 hours, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sarki Umar intercepted a white Peugeot 15 bus with Reg. No. KMC 283 ZJ along the Abuja-Kano route.
” The vehicle was driven by ALI IBRAHIM, a male resident of Kano State, accompanied by his motor boy, AL HASSAN IBRAHIM, also of Kano State. 59 male children between the ages of 4 and 12 were discovered to be traveling on the bus.
“Preliminary investigations revealed that the children, who came from different families, were being transported by one Idris Usman, a male resident of Nasarawa State.
“He allegedly traveled to Kano State to organize the children while en route to Nasarawa State for training.”
Due to the suspicious circumstances, a lack of proper documentation, or parental consent for the children’s transportation, and the incident, according to Disu, has been classified as a suspected case of child abuse and trafficking.
He reaffirmed the command’s dedication to safeguarding vulnerable populations, especially children, from exploitation and abuse, in accordance with the provisions of the Child’s Rights Act 2003.
He added:” At present, the suspects, the vehicle, and all the children are in custody while a thorough investigation is underway.
The Police Command and the FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS) are collaborating closely to bring all those responsible for this crime to justice and ensure that the children are safely reunited with their families.
We ask parents and guardians to keep watch over their children’s safety.
The suspect, who allegedly runs an Islamic school in Nasarawa State, claimed to have worked as an educator for more than 40 years.
He admitted to instructing the children to beg for food as a means of self-sustenance while claiming ignorance of the law governing child transportation.
He added that this was his first time taking such a large group of children to Nasarawa, adding that generous Nigerians occasionally donate food to feed the children.
Persecondnews recalls that on April 27, 2024, the command arrested two suspected female kidnappers, Kulu Dogonyaro and Elizabeth Ojah, in Abuja with five minors in their custody.
The suspects, who had initially feigned being detained by Sokoto police, were later interrogated and taken into custody by FCT police officers at the Abuja Kagini junction.
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