Operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command have successfully prevented the abduction and trafficking of three children in Mararaba, within Karu Local Government Area, following a swift intervention that led to the arrest of a suspect.
According to a statement released on Friday by the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, a 22-year-old woman, Aisha Hashiru, was apprehended by vigilant members of the public at the Orange Market in Mararaba as she attempted to abduct three minors.
Child abduction and trafficking remain critical security and human rights challenges in Nigeria. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime ranks Nigeria among West Africa’s principal hubs for human trafficking. In 2024 alone, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) rescued over 2,500 victims and prosecuted numerous offenders nationwide. Children are frequently targeted for forced labor, sexual exploitation, or illegal adoption.
SP Nansel explained the incident: “The suspect was about to be lynched by members of the public when the Divisional Police Officer of Mararaba ‘A’ Division, responding promptly to the report, dispatched a patrol team to the scene. The team rescued the suspect and the children and took them to the station for their safety.”
Preliminary investigations revealed that earlier that day, around 5 p.m., the suspect had unlawfully entered the residence of Ramatu Auwal, located in Orange Market, and abducted her three children: Fatima Auwal, 4; Shafiyi Auwal, 5; and Amina Auwal, 6.
“The suspect confessed to luring the children with the promise of buying biscuits,” SP Nansel added.
State Commissioner of Police Shetima Mohammed has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia for a thorough investigation. He further directed officers to intensify efforts to resolve reported cases of missing children and to reinforce the command’s fight against human trafficking in Nasarawa.
The Police Command expressed appreciation for the public’s vigilance, reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding lives and protecting children in the state.
This recent arrest highlights the crucial role of community cooperation in combating human trafficking. The Nigeria Police Force continues to escalate anti-trafficking operations through state investigative units and partnerships with NAPTIP nationwide.
