By Deborah Nnamdi
Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested a driver, Ali Ibrahim, and his assistant, Alhassan Ibrahim, both residents of Kano State, for alleged child trafficking.
The duo was intercepted in a white Peugeot 15-seater bus, commonly known as “J5,” with registration number KMC 283 ZJ while transporting 59 trafficked children.
The children, aged between four and 12 years, were stopped along the Abuja-Kano route by a team of police officers led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sarki Umar during a routine operation. On January 6, 2025.
Addressing reporters in Abuja on Wednesday, FCT Commissioner of Police (CP) Tunji Disu disclosed that preliminary investigations revealed the children were being transported from Kano State to Nasarawa State under questionable circumstances.
Disu said: “On January 6, 2025, at about 3:30 p.m., a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sarki Umar intercepted a white Peugeot 15-seater bus with registration number KMC 283 ZJ on the Abuja-Kano route.
“The vehicle, driven by Ali Ibrahim and accompanied by his assistant, Alhassan Ibrahim, was found carrying 59 male children aged between four and 12 years.
“Investigations revealed that the children, from different families in Kano State, were allegedly being transported by one Idris Usman, a resident of Nasarawa State, under the guise of providing training.”
The commissioner noted that the absence of proper documentation or parental consent raised suspicions of child trafficking and abuse.
“This incident has been classified as suspected child trafficking. The suspects, the vehicle, and all the children are currently in custody.
A thorough investigation is ongoing, and the Police Command is collaborating with the FCT Social Development Secretariat to ensure the children’s safe return to their families and to bring those responsible to justice,” Disu explained.
The FCT Commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to safeguarding vulnerable groups, especially children, from exploitation and abuse, by the Child Rights Act of 2003.
