The Kaduna State government has rescued 13 children who were allegedly trafficked out of the state by a syndicate operating across several regions of Nigeria.

Speaking to journalists on Saturday, the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, revealed that the children were initially taken from Kaduna to Abuja and then moved to Enugu by the traffickers.

“One of the abducted children was stolen when the child was seven days old and now, that same child is seven-years-old,” she disclosed.

“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.”

The commissioner added that the identities of the children were tampered with by the traffickers to conceal their origins.

“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,” she said.

Giving more insight, Salisu said 11 of the children were received from the Kaduna State Police Command on March 24, 2025, after arrests were made in connection with the case.

“Upon review of the situation in one of the scenarios after the arrest made, on 24th March, 2025, the ministry received 11 children from the office of the state Commissioner of Police from Abuja.”

She further explained that five members of the gang revealed that their ringleader runs an orphanage in Abuja used as a front for trafficking.

“She uses her orphanage as temporary shelter for the stolen children and negotiates for their sale to prospective buyers in the eastern part of the country,” Salisu explained.

“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.”

According to her, seven more children were handed over to the ministry on April 9, 2025, and six others were returned from Birnin Kebbi. These six were allegedly trafficked to a woman known as “Maman Salamatu” in Calabar, though her real name has been withheld due to the ongoing investigation.

The commissioner called on parents searching for missing children to come forward with relevant evidence.

“We call 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 urged parents to be vigilant and instill good morals in their children to prevent abuse and exploitation.

“Parents must 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, a parent whose daughter, Maryam, was abducted two months ago in Kogi State and recently rescued, expressed gratitude.

“I thank the ministry and all other government agencies for reuniting me with my daughter,” he said.

“I call on parents to be watchful over their children so they do not go through the trauma of losing a child.”