The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has intercepted a vehicle transporting 59 children suspected of being trafficked. The children, ranging in age from four to 12, were found in a white Peugeot 15-seater bus along the Abuja-Kano route on Monday. The bus, with registration number KMC 283 ZJ, was stopped by a police team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Sarki Umar.
The driver, Ali Ibrahim, and his assistant, Alhassan Ibrahim, both residents of Kano State, were immediately arrested. Preliminary investigations revealed that the children, who came from various families in Kano, were being transported to Nasarawa State under the pretext of receiving training. Authorities suspect that the children were being trafficked for exploitative purposes.
FCT Commissioner of Police, Tunji Disu, stated that the incident had been classified as a case of child abuse and trafficking, as there was no proper documentation or parental consent for the children’s movement. The police are working closely with the FCT Social Development Secretariat to ensure the children’s safe return to their families and to bring those responsible to justice.
Disu emphasized the police’s commitment to protecting vulnerable children from exploitation and abuse, urging parents and guardians to stay vigilant and prioritize the safety of their children.