Politics
Kaduna govt rescues 13 trafficked children taken to Southeast
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.”
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, on Friday declared that he’s still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Wike’s comment followed his expulsion from the party by the faction led by National Chairman, Kabiru Turaki.
Turaki had formally dispatched expulsion certificates to 11 prominent party chieftains, including Wike, former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, Umaru Bature, Kamarudeen Ajibade, SAN, Abdurahman Muhammad Senator Mao Ohuabunwa.
He said their expulsion was aimed at sanitising the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
Reacting to the development on Friday, Wike dismissed the claim while assuring that he would continue to work with other party members in making PDP a relevant opposition party.
The minister spoke while addressing journalists after inspecting the Interchange bridge and road linking Gwarinpa with Jahi and direct to Katampe, Gishiri and Maitama.
He said, “Those that are factionalized are bound to leave the party, I’m still in PDP and you can see that not everybody has left.
“We still have good numbers and we will continue to work together and that’s what I have said to the party. Put your house in order because at the end of the day, if you don’t put your house in order, it’s the party that is losing.
“So those who are worried, we can work together to see how the party can remain a relevant opposition.”
The governments of Abia and Imo States have announced the launching of a joint security taskforce and surveillance along the Aba-Owerri expressway, starting from Owerrinta in Abia State all the way to Owerri, Imo State.
The launch followed recent attacks by criminals on the expressway, including kidnapping, armed robbery and other criminal activities.
The formation of the joint security taskforce and surveillance was announced by Ferdinand Ekeoma, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity.
His statement read in part: “Arising from a strategic emergency security meeting held today, 4th December, 2025, by the Governors of Abia and Imo Sates at the Imo State Government Owerri House, His Excellency Governor Alex Otti and His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma resolved to set up a joint security Taskforce that shall consist of Soldiers, Naval Personnel, Police Officers , DSS Personnel, and other Government Security Agencies.
“The joint security Taskforce shall, starting from tomorrow 5th December 2025, patrol the road 24 hours nonstop, while carrying out massive surveillance in the surrounding bushes using sophisticated drones and other modern security equipment.”
According to the statement, Governor Alex Otti commended the Governor of Imo State for arresting the criminals who carried out an attack on His advanced team and other passengers a few days ago.
“The two Governors, while assuring citizens plying the road on a daily basis and those returning home for Christmas of their safety and security, warn that there would be severe consequences for any criminal caught on the road going forward”, Ekeoma concluded.
President Bola Tinubu has transmitted to the senate two lists of 34 career and 31 non career ambassadors nominees for screening and confirmation.
Prominent names listed as non career ambassadors include Reno Omokri, Femi Fani-Kayode, Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, Victor Ikpeazu and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.
Also listed as non career ambassadors nominees are Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, Vice Admiral Ete Ibas, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator Nora Daduut, Fatima Ajimobi, and Senator Ita Enang among others.
The two lists brings to 68 number of persons nominated so far as ambassadors awaiting confirmation by the Senate.
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