Adamawa Governor Reunites 14 Trafficked Children With Families

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has reunited 14 abducted children with their families after they were rescued from human traffickers in Anambra State.

At a handover ceremony in Government House, Yola, on Wednesday, Fintiri—represented by his deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta—commended the combined efforts of security agencies for securing the release of the children and the arrest of the suspected trafficker, identified as Ngozi Abdulwahab, a middle-aged woman.

According to the governor, intelligence gathered in July 2025 revealed a disturbing rise in missing children reports across several Adamawa communities. Swift operations involving the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) led to the discovery of the syndicate.

Farauta disclosed that the suspect, operating from a provision shop in Jambutu ward, Yola North Local Government Area, lured children aged four to nine years with snacks and gifts before trafficking them to the South-East. The victims were allegedly sold for amounts ranging from ₦800,000 to ₦1.7m each.

Describing the act as “monstrous and traumatic,” the deputy governor vowed that the state would ensure full prosecution of the suspects under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015, the Adamawa State Child Protection Law (2008), the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law (2021), and the Penal Code of Adamawa State.

She also urged parents to be more vigilant, warning against negligence such as sending children under 10 years old on errands or to school unaccompanied.