The Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Police Command has arrested a child trafficking syndicate and rescued 59 children.


The children, aged between 4 and 12 years, were rescued by the police Patrol and Guard unit at about 3:30 pm along the Abuja-Kano route.


The team, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sarki Umar, intercepted a white Peugeot 15 bus with registration number KMC 283 ZJ, driven by Idris Usman, a resident of Kano State, and accompanied by Alhassan Ibrahim, also from Kano State.
Parading the suspects at the police command headquarters in Abuja, FCT Commissioner of Police Olatunji Disu said preliminary investigations revealed that the children, who came from different families, were being transported by Idris Usman, a resident of Nasarawa State.
Usman allegedly travelled to Kano State to collect the children en route to Nasarawa State under the pretext of training them.
The commissioner said the 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.
He added at present, the suspects, the vehicle, and all the children are in custody while a thorough investigation is underway.
Disu said the Command is working closely with the FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS) to ensure the children are safely reunited with their families and to bring all those involved in the act to justice.
Disu reiterated the commitment to protecting vulnerable groups, particularly children, from exploitation and abuse, in line with the Child’s Right Act 2003.
He appealed to parents and guardians to remain vigilant and ensure the safety of their children.
PRESS BRIEFING BY THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE FCT, CP OLATUNJI RILWAN DISU psc, ON 8TH JANUARY 2025.
PROTOCOL
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press,
Once again, I welcome you all to the FCT Police Command today to brief you on the Command’s recent achievements. In the last two days, the FCT Police Command has made arrests and rescues which I will be reading out to you;

  1. INTERCEPTION OF SUSPECED CHILD TRAFFICKING OPERATION.
    Good morning, ladies and gentlemen of the press, and thank you for being here today.
    The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command wishes to brief you on a significant interception made by our Patrol and Guard unit.
    On 6th January 2025, at about 1530 hours, a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sarki Umar intercepted a white Peugeot 15 bus with Reg. No. KMC 283 ZJ along the Abuja-Kano route. The vehicle was driven by ALI IBRAHIM, a male resident of Kano State, accompanied by his motor boy, AL HASSAN IBRAHIM, also of Kano State.
    The bus was found to be transporting 59 male children aged between 4 to 12 years. Preliminary investigations revealed that the children, who came from different families, were being transported by one Idris Usman, a male resident of Nasarawa State. He allegedly traveled to Kano State to convene the children en route to Nasarawa State under the pretext of training them.
    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.
    The Police Command is working closely with FCT Social Development Secretariat (SDS), to ensure that the children are 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.