The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has uncovered a suspected child trafficking syndicate allegedly operating under the guise of an orphanage in the Saburi area of Abuja, rescuing 21 children in the process.
The command said the discovery followed a petition submitted on January 29, 2026, by concerned members of the Saburi community, alleging suspicious activities linked to the orphanage.
Acting on the complaint, the police commenced what they described as a discreet and thorough investigation into the facility.
Preliminary findings, according to the police, revealed that the operators of the orphanage allegedly targeted indigent families in rural communities across the country, obtaining custody of young children under the pretext of providing them access to education in urban centres and a better life.
Instead, the children were allegedly trafficked to prospective buyers in different parts of the country through the orphanage.
The command disclosed that 21 out of the 46 children said to have been trafficked through the illegal operation had so far been rescued.
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It added that the rescued children were undergoing procedures to ensure their safe reunification with their biological parents, while efforts were ongoing to locate the remaining victims and apprehend all those connected with the crime.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement on Thursday, urged parents and guardians to be vigilant about the welfare of their children, warning that not all offers of sponsorship or improved opportunities were genuine.
She also commended members of the Saburi community for their vigilance and cooperation, urging residents to promptly report suspicious persons or activities to the police through the command’s emergency lines.
