Police rescue six children from child-stealing, human-trafficking syndicate in Niger State

The Niger State Police Command has rescued six children from a child-stealing and human-trafficking syndicate.

The command’s spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, revealed this in a statement on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, noting that the syndicate operated between Niger State and the Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, three of the children were abducted from the Lambata area before detectives traced the suspected traffickers to Kurudu in Abuja, where a couple — Leonard Ugochukwu and Ngozi Ugochukwu were arrested.

The couple reportedly confessed to buying two of the children from one Okpalaye Mathew Ibrahim, believed to be a hospital worker, for N1.3 million.

Abiodun added that efforts were underway to track down other members of the syndicate.

“It may be recalled that on November 5, 2025, at about 5pm, one Victoria Ebunoha Chukwumezie, 40, of Nyanya, Abuja, was arrested at Diko Junction with three children aged between two and three, abducted from Lambata. Preliminary investigation revealed that she had committed similar offences in Tafa, Suleja, and Madalla,” the statement said.

“In a follow up investigative effort, the suspect led Police operatives of SCID Minna to Kurudu area of Abuja on November 11, 2025 and two additional suspects were arrested, who are; Leonard Ugochukwu 55yrs and Ngozi Ugochukwu 45yrs both who are husband/wife residing in Kurudu, Abuja

“The two suspects were arrested with two suspected trafficked children, one Goodnews Sunday 4yrs and Ummikari Bello 3yrs in their residence at Orozo area of Kurudu, Abuja.

“During interrogation, they claimed that they got the children through the intervention of one Okpalaye Mathew Ibrahim who works in a hospital in the same area.

“The suspects confessed that Mathew sold the two children for them at the rate of one million, one hundred thousand naira each, with a registration fee of one hundred thousand naira, totalling two million, three hundred thousand naira (#2,300,000).

“The suspects are in custody and investigative efforts are still ongoing to arrest other suspects connected to the case and recovery of other trafficked children.

“Similarly on November 16, 2025 at about 2.40pm, reports received indicated that one Usman Adamu 40yrs of Sabon-Wuse, Tafa was sighted with four children around Angwan-Katampe suspected to have been abducted.

“Police operatives attached to Tafa Div mobilized to the scene and the said Usman was found with four children; Khalid Ilyasu 7yrs, Sadiq Ilyasu 11yrs, Ahmed Ilyasu 5yrs and Sadiq Idris 5yrs, all of Sabon-Wuse.

“This attracted a large mob, but the Police operatives were able to rescue the suspect and the children to the Police station.

“In the course of interrogation, he confessed that a yet to be identified woman requested him to get the children for her and he will be rewarded.

“The suspect is under further investigation in SCID Minna and efforts to identify and arrest the said woman in progress.”