Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have rescued 15 minors who were allegedly trafficked and sold for ₦2 million each in a coordinated child-trafficking scheme originating from Nasarawa State.
Speaking at a press briefing at the NSCDC National Headquarters in Abuja on Friday, the Corps Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, revealed that the primary suspect operated under the guise of an official representing a fake non-governmental organization, the National Council of Child Rights Advocate.
According to Afolabi, the suspect exploited vulnerable, low-income families in the Kama Madaki and Gudindi Mada communities of Kokona Local Government Area by promising free education through a fraudulent “Back to School Project,” ultimately deceiving parents into surrendering custody of their children.
The rescue operation was executed by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG-SIS), under the leadership of Commander Dandaura Appollos.
Operatives successfully recovered 15 of the 16 trafficked children through actionable intelligence and advanced field tracking across several states.
Three victims were rescued across Anambra, Imo, and Enugu states, while the remaining 12 were retrieved along major transit routes in the Eastern region.
Three alleged buyers, one male and two females, were taken into custody during the operation.
The NSCDC reiterated its strict zero-tolerance policy regarding human trafficking and child exploitation, emphasizing that all suspects will face full prosecution upon the conclusion of ongoing investigations.
