The Adamawa State Police Command has announced the arrest of 567 suspects for various crimes, the rescue of 13 trafficked children, and four kidnapped victims.
The command said it recorded the successes from April to June 2025.
Commissioner of Police, Afolabi Morris, disclosed these figures during a press briefing held at the command headquarters in Yola.
He said the arrests covered a wide range of offences, including kidnapping, armed robbery, rape, child trafficking, culpable homicide, and violent robberies associated with the notorious ‘Shilla’ gang operating across urban centres in the state.
Highlighting one of the major breakthroughs, Morris revealed that 13 trafficked children who were stolen from Adamawa State and sold in Anambra State were successfully rescued through coordinated intelligence-led operations.
“These children were traced and recovered following diligent investigation by our Anti-Kidnapping and Crack Squad, led by Shuaibu Wara, in collaboration with other tactical and intelligence units.
“We are working to reunite them with their biological families after proper identification and verification,” Morris said.
Two key suspects in the child trafficking ring have been arrested.
They were identified as Mrs. Ngozi Abdulwahab, of Jambutu in Yola North Local Government Area, and Mrs. Uche Okoye, of Kabiku in Nnewi, Anambra State.
The police said the women are believed to have orchestrated multiple cases of child stealing and trafficking across several states.
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“Investigations are ongoing, and all involved will face the full weight of the law,” the police commissioner stated, describing the incident as a disturbing reminder of the dangers of human trafficking.
Morris also confirmed the rescue of four kidnap victims and praised the public for providing actionable intelligence that led to several of the arrests.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Ahmadu Fintiri for his consistent support of the police and commended residents of the state for their cooperation in fighting crime.
“The success of our operations is a testament to the value of community-police collaboration,” he added.
The police assured that the rescued children are in safe custody and will be released to their families upon completion of verification processes.
