The Kaduna State Government has rescued 13 children who were allegedly kidnapped and sold to child traffickers in Kebbi, Cross River, Enugu and Anambra State.
The state Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Rabi Salisu, who disclosed this while speaking to journalists on Saturday, April 12, 2025, said the rescued children were trafficked to Enugu State by a syndicate, some of whom were yet to be arrested.
“One of the abducted children was stolen when the child was seven days old and now, that same child is seven years old. The children cannot identify their locations, but the authorities will do everything humanly possible to ensure that all the children are reunited with their family members,” Salisu said.
“All of them have their names changed from Hausa to other names. Those brought to Kaduna are under the special intervention and emergency support of the government under the ministry’s facility to provide psychosocial counselling and support, nutritional food, medical care, and rehabilitation
“Upon review of the situation in one of the scenarios after the arrest made, on March 24, 2025, the ministry received 11 children from the office of the state Commissioner of Police from Abuja.”
Salisu said five members of the kidnapping gang confessed that the gang leader operated an orphanage in Abuja to perpetrate the nefarious act.
“She uses her orphanage as a temporary shelter for the stolen children and negotiates for their sale to prospective buyers in the eastern part of the country. This evil act is so alarming that all the children found and brought back have lost their identities so much that they can’t remember their original homes.
“Seven of the children were received on 9th April 2025 from the state Commissioner of Police’s office. The remaining children from Abuja and six others brought back from Birnin Kebbi, were abducted and sold to a woman nicknamed Maman Salamatu, in Calabar (real name concealed as the case is still under investigation in Kebbi), the commissioner stated,” Salisu added.
She called on parents, who lost their children and are searching for them to come forward with concrete evidence, including proof of birth and other relevant information.
She advised parents to be vigilant, imbibe the culture of good parenting, and nurture their children with good moral upbringing to protect them against all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation.
Ali Adamu, whose daughter, Maryam, was abducted two months ago in Kogi State, thanked the ministry and all other government agencies for reuniting him with his daughter.
