Adamawa Governor Reunites 14 Abducted Children, Vows Crackdown on Traffickers
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, has reunited 14 abducted children with their families after they were rescued from a human trafficking ring operating in the state.
Speaking at the official handover ceremony in Yola on Wednesday, Governor Fintiri, represented by his deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, warned parents against sending children under the age of 10 on errands or allowing them to go to school alone.
“This is a mixed moment of sadness and joy. Sad, because Adamawa has now been touched by the monster of child trafficking; and joyful, because today these children have been rescued and returned to their parents,” Farauta said.
According to her, intelligence reports in July 2025 revealed rising cases of missing minors. Security agencies, including the Police, DSS, and NSCDC, launched a coordinated manhunt that led to the arrest of the alleged ringleader, identified as a middle-aged woman, Ngozi Abdulwahab.
Investigations showed that Abdulwahab allegedly lured children aged 4–9 years from communities in Yola-North LGA using snacks and gifts, before trafficking them to southeastern Nigeria where they were sold for between ₦800,000 and ₦1.7 million per child.
“The monstrous crime is traumatic not just for the victims and their parents but for our entire state. We will ensure that the suspects face the full weight of the law,” Farauta vowed.
She disclosed that Abdulwahab will be prosecuted under multiple laws, including 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 state Penal Code.
The government also provided each parent with ₦100,000, as well as food and non-food items, to support their families after the reunion.
“To parents across the state, I urge you to take parenting more seriously. Children are sacred blessings from God, and we must protect them with responsibility,” Farauta said, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to authorities.
Punch
