Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State has revealed that 14 children, trafficked from various communities in Adamawa to Anambra State, were rescued and reunited with their families on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.
The children, aged 4 to 9, were allegedly abducted by a middle-aged Igbo trader, Ngozi Abdulwahab, who operated a provision shop in Jambutu Ward, Yola North LGA.Speaking through his Deputy Governor, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, during a handover ceremony in Yola, Governor Fintiri condemned the trafficking as a “monstrous crime” that has placed Adamawa on the map of Nigeria’s growing child trafficking crisis.
Farauta disclosed that Abdulwahab lured the children with snacks and gifts before selling them in Anambra for amounts ranging from ₦800,000 to ₦1.7 million each.
The children, primarily from Mubi South, Mubi North, Yola South, and Yola North LGAs, had their names changed to Igbo names to conceal their identities.
The rescue operation, conducted in July 2025, was a collaborative effort between the Adamawa State Police Command, DSS, NSCDC, and state government, following credible intelligence.
Abdulwahab and her accomplice, Uche Okoye, 55, from Kabiku, Nnewi, were arrested. The children underwent medical examinations and psychological therapy at the Specialist Hospital in Jimeta before their reunion.
“Adamawa is the wrong place for such heinous acts. We will dismantle these networks and prosecute the culprits under the Trafficking in Persons Act, Adamawa Child Protection Law, and other relevant laws,” Farauta stated, representing Fintiri, who is currently abroad.
The government provided each family with ₦100,000 and food items to aid their recovery.
Subaru Abdulmumini, speaking for the parents, expressed gratitude, saying, “We had lost hope, but the government gave us reasons to smile again.”
Governor Fintiri urged parents to remain vigilant and called for public cooperation to combat trafficking, emphasizing, “This fight is for all of us.”
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