Adamawa State Government has reunited 14 children rescued from a trafficking syndicate with their parents after months of investigation and medical care.
At the official handing over ceremony in Yola on Wednesday, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, represented by his deputy, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, expressed mixed emotions over the development, describing it as both “sad and joyful.”
“It is heartbreaking that Adamawa has now entered the national conversation for child trafficking,” she said.
“But we are relieved that these children have been rescued and reunited with their loved ones.”
According to her, reports of missing minors aged between four and nine years surfaced in July, prompting the state government to launch an investigation in collaboration with the police, DSS, and NSCDC. Their efforts paid off with the arrest of the alleged kingpin, identified as Ngozi Abdulwahab, who is accused of trafficking children from Jambutu ward in Yola North Local Government Area to the South-East, where they were reportedly sold for amounts ranging from ₦800,000 to ₦1.7 million.
“We will not rest until the suspects face the full weight of the law,” Farauta vowed. “Adamawa State is not a haven for human traffickers. We will dismantle their networks and prosecute them to the fullest extent possible.”
The deputy governor disclosed that the suspects would be charged under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, the Adamawa State Child Protection Law (2008), Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law (2021), and the Penal Code.
Each rescued child underwent medical examination and psychosocial support before being reunited with their families. To help ease their reintegration, the state provided each parent with ₦100,000, alongside food and non-food items to support small business start-ups and household needs.
Farauta urged parents to take greater responsibility for their children’s safety, warning against sending minors below ten years on errands or allowing them travel to school alone.
“Children are sacred gifts from God,” she said. “We must protect them fiercely and never treat them as commodities.”
She also called on residents to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.
“Community vigilance is key,” she added. “When you see something, say something before it is too late.”