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7 hours ago
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City Beats
Eight kids suspected to have been stolen from Kano State between 2017 and 2022 have been rescued from an orphanage in Asaba, Delta State by officials of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The kids were among 70 under aged, including newborns, found in the orphanage during an operation by the NAPTIP, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Police, Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, civil society groups, and concerned parents, the agency said yesterday.
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In a statement, the NAPTP Press Officer, Vincent Adekoye, said investigation of the orphanage followed petitions from parents in Kano who alleged that their children, mostly between ages two and 10, had been abducted and moved to other parts of the country.
“Some parents had previously reported cases dating back to 2017, with another wave of suspected trafficking reported in 2022.
“During the operation, more than 70 children, including newborns, were found in the orphanage, but only eight were confirmed to have been taken from Kano. They have since been reunited with their families,” said Adekoye.
According to him, NAPTIP Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, described the findings as disturbing, warning that some orphanages in the country have become havens for trafficked children. She urged state ministries of women affairs to intensify oversight of such facilities in line with existing regulations.
Bello also commended the DSS, police, and other partners for supporting the operation, stressing that NAPTIP remains committed to protecting children and ensuring justice in cases of trafficking and abduction.
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