The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has announced the rescue of 15 minors who were allegedly trafficked and sold for N2 million each by a fake official of a civil society organisation, the National Council of Child Rights Advocate.
The NSCDC Public Relations Officer (PRO), Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this while briefing journalists at the Corps Headquarters in Abuja. He said the rescue was carried out during a major crackdown on criminal syndicates involved in vandalism and child trafficking.
The Corps also said stolen rifles and vandalised telecommunications equipment were recovered during the operation.
According to Afolabi, a member of the syndicate posed as an official of the National Council of Child Rights Advocate and deceived parents into handing over their children.
“Under the guise of operating an NGO and orphanage programme called the Back to School Project, he lured willing, less privileged parents into releasing their children with promises of free education,” Afolabi said.
He added that the operation was carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS), headed by Commander Dandaura Appollos.
Afolabi said 15 of the 16 trafficked children from Kama Madaki and Gudindi Mada communities in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State were rescued from their buyers.
“Through advanced field tracking, technical intelligence and multi-state tactical sweeps, operatives of the CG’s SIS tracked down the buyers who were from different locations in the country,” he said.
According to him, three of the victims were rescued in Anambra, Imo and Enugu states, while the remaining 12 were rescued during a coordinated operation along the eastern transit routes.
