Olayiwola Matthew
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) police command says its operatives have intercepted suspected human traffickers with 59 children.
Tunji Disu, FCT police commissioner, said a team led by Sarki Umar, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), intercepted a white Peugeot 15-seater bus, popularly known as J5, on January 6 while heading to Nasarawa state.
The police commissioner said the bus was transporting the children aged between four and 12 years, who were suspected to be trafficked from Kano.
He added that Ali Ibrahim, the driver, and Alhassan Ibrahim, his assistant, both Kano state residents, were arrested on the spot.
Disu said preliminary investigations showed that the children were being transported to Nasarawa under the guise of receiving training.
“On January 6, 2025, at about 1530 hours, a team led by deputy superintendent of police Sarki Umar intercepted a white Peugeot 15 bus with Reg. No. KMC 283 ZJ along the Abuja-Kano route,” he said.
“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 and 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 travelled to Kano State to convene the children en route to Nasarawa state under the pretext of training them.”