Adamawa State Government has vowed to intensify its fight against human trafficking following the rescue and reunion of 14 abducted children with their families.
Deputy Governor, Prof. Kaletapwa George Farauta, gave the assurance on Wednesday during the official handover ceremony in Yola, where the children, aged between four and nine, were reunited with their parents.
“We shall flush them out, dismantle their networks, and ensure they face the full weight of the law. This is not an empty threat; it is a promise,” Farauta said.
She described the development as heartbreaking, noting that Adamawa should never be a destination or conduit for human trafficking.
“In July 2025, we received intelligence about a disturbing rise in missing children cases. As a responsible government, we took immediate action,” she explained.
Working with security agencies, including the Police, DSS and NSCDC, the government traced the missing children to Anambra State and arrested the alleged ringleader, identified as a middle-aged woman, Ngozi Abdulwahab.
The suspect, who reportedly operated from a provision shop in Jambutu Ward, Yola North, was said to have lured children with snacks and gifts before trafficking them to southeastern Nigeria. The children were allegedly sold for between N800,000 and N1.7 million each.
Farauta said the rescued children had undergone medical and psychological rehabilitation before being handed over to their families. She also urged parents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activities.
“Our citizens are not commodities. Under no circumstance should anyone be allowed to treat them as such,” she said.
The Deputy Governor commended Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri for his swift intervention and support in combating trafficking.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Neido Geoffrey Kofulto, and the Member representing Yola North in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Suleiman Alkali, lauded the governor’s leadership and called for stronger community vigilance.
The Adamawa State Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Hassan Abubakar Naibi, said trafficking was becoming increasingly rampant in the state. He pledged the agency’s commitment to eliminating the menace and urged communities to support the fight.
Parents of the rescued children expressed gratitude to the government for its intervention. Each family received N100,000 to boost their livelihoods, while the children were given food and non-food items to aid their reintegration.
