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From Molly Kilete, Abuja
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested a child trafficking syndicate and rescued 59 children.
The children ages between 4-12 years, were rescued by Police Patrol and Guard unit at about 3:30pm along Abuja-Kano route.
The team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sarki Umar, intercepted the white Peugeot 15 bus with registration number: KMC 283 ZJ, driven by one Idris Usman said to be a male resident of Kano State and accompanied by Alhaji Hassan Ibrahim , also of Kano state.
Parading the suspects at the police command headquarters, Abuja, FCT police Commissioner ,Olatunji Disu, said preliminary investigations revealed that the children, who came from different families, were being transported by Idris Usman, a male resident of Nasarawa State.
He said Usman, allegedly traveled to Kano state to convey the children en- route Nasarawa state under the pretext of training them.
He said,“This incident has been classified as a case of suspected child abuse and trafficking, given the circumstances and the absence of proper documentation or parental consent for the movement of the minors.
“At present, the suspects, the vehicle, and all the children are in custody while a thorough investigation is underway”.
He also said that The Police Command was working closely with FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS), to ensure that the children were safely reunited with their families and to bring all those involved in this act to justice.
“I want to reiterate our commitment to protecting vulnerable groups, particularly children, from exploitation and abuse in line with the Child’s Right Act 2003. We appeal to parents and guardians to remain vigilant and ensure the safety of their children”.
In an interview with journalists, Usman, who said he runs an Islamic school in Nassarawa state, said he had been a teacher for over 49 years.
The suspect who said he was not aware that he has committed a crime by trafficking the children, said that while in training, he sends the children to beg for food to fend for themselves and that sometimes he gets food from good hearted Nigerians to feed the children.
He further stated that this was the first time he has taken such a huge number of children to Nassarawa.
