NAPTIP Rescues Over 180 Children From Suspected Fake CSO Traffickers

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued more than 180 children allegedly trafficked by criminal groups operating under the guise of civil society organisations (CSOs).

The agency said the suspects targeted vulnerable and crisis-affected communities, where they allegedly deceived parents with promises of educational assistance, back-to-school programmes and other forms of support before taking away their children.

NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, raised concerns over the activities of suspected trafficking syndicates allegedly moving from one distressed community to another to exploit vulnerable families.

According to her, the agency has established a special squad within its Investigation and Monitoring Department to track down trafficked children, recover them and ensure that those responsible face prosecution.

Among those rescued were three children allegedly taken from a distressed parent in Kajuru, Kaduna State, and transported to Onitsha, Anambra State. Another child was reportedly found in the custody of a clinical staff member at the Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha.

The staff member, who was questioned by NAPTIP on Tuesday, reportedly said she obtained the child from a prominent orphanage in Abuja in 2023 after paying ₦771,000. The agency did not disclose the name of the orphanage.

NAPTIP said the first batch of children recovered by the special squad had allegedly been taken from communities in Benue and Nasarawa states and moved to orphanages in Abuja and other parts of the country.

Bello further disclosed that some of the children were allegedly handed over to unidentified individuals under the guise of adoption after money had exchanged hands.

The NAPTIP boss expressed concern over the alleged infiltration of the civil society sector by criminal elements involved in child trafficking.

She acknowledged the contributions of genuine CSOs to humanitarian and anti-trafficking activities but warned that some individuals were allegedly using the identity of such organisations to facilitate the movement and sale of children.

Bello assured that NAPTIP would intensify efforts to identify and dismantle the networks behind the alleged trafficking operations, while working to reunite rescued children with their families where possible.

GaskiyaCast