Three Children Rescued As Police Foil Child Trafficking Attempt In Nasarawa, Arrest 22-Year-Old Suspect

Operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command have thwarted an attempt to traffic three children in the Mararaba area of Karu Local Government Area, leading to the arrest of a 22-year-old female suspect.

The Command’s spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed the development in a statement issued on Friday in Lafia, the state capital.

According to Nansel, the suspect, identified as Aisha Hashiru, was caught by residents at the popular Orange Market in Mararaba while trying to abduct three minors. She was subsequently handed over to the police following swift intervention.

Child abduction and human trafficking remain a major concern in Nigeria. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) ranks the country as one of West Africa’s key trafficking hubs. In 2024 alone, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) rescued more than 2,500 victims and prosecuted several offenders nationwide.

Explaining the incident, Nansel stated: “She was about to be lynched when the Divisional Police Officer of Mararaba ‘A’ Division, acting promptly on the report, mobilised his patrol team to the scene, rescued both the suspect and the children, and moved them to the station for safety.”

He further revealed that preliminary investigations showed the suspect had sneaked into the home of one Ramatu Auwal at Orange Market around 5 p.m. on the same day and abducted her three children: Fatima Auwal, female, age four; Shafiyi Auwal, male, age five; and Amina Auwal, male, age six.

“Nemesis, however, caught up with her when she was intercepted by vigilant members of the public. Upon interrogation, the suspect confessed to luring the children under the pretext of buying them biscuits,” Nansel added.

The State Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed, has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lafia for detailed investigation. He also directed officers to intensify efforts in resolving other reported cases of missing children while strengthening the command’s anti-human trafficking measures.

Nansel commended the vigilance of residents and reassured the public of the police command’s commitment to safeguarding lives and ensuring children’s safety across Nasarawa State.

The Nigeria Police Force has been stepping up anti-trafficking operations nationwide through its SCID units and partnerships with NAPTIP. Friday’s arrest in Mararaba highlights the crucial role of community vigilance in tackling child trafficking, as residents were instrumental in foiling the abduction before police intervention.