The Kogi State government has announced that security personnel have intercepted a group of underage children believed to have been trafficked into the state, potentially for covert recruitment into banditry training.
Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, revealed this in a statement on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, noting that several individuals connected to the trafficking operation have been apprehended.
“At approximately 3:00 pm on December 5, 2025, vigilant members of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the Yagba Area Command, working alongside other security agencies in Isanlu, acted on reliable intelligence from local hunters to stop a truck carrying 21 children aged between six and 17 years into Kogi State,” the commissioner explained.
He indicated that initial investigations showed the children were transported from various northern states under dubious circumstances by adults who could not provide valid reasons for their actions.
“Multiple suspects associated with the trafficking operation have been arrested, including those who claimed they were taking the children to set up an informal Islamic school in Yagba East,” he added.
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Fanwo mentioned that further arrests occurred as security forces increased their surveillance in the area, uncovering more individuals allegedly involved in the movement of the minors.
“Some of the suspects were also found in possession of items that raised significant security concerns,” he stated, noting that the rescued children have been taken to the NSCDC State Command in Lokoja for thorough investigation and proper profiling of all individuals involved.
He also mentioned that Governor Ahmed Ododo has instructed the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to take full responsibility for the underage victims, ensuring their welfare and providing necessary psychosocial support while investigations are ongoing.
