Abuja Police foil child trafficking operation, rescue 23 children

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Federal Captain Territory Police Command has rescued 23 children from a suspected child trafficking syndicate.

The police in a statement on Saturday, by the Command Spokesman, SP Josephine Adeh, claimed that the syndicate was operating under the guise of an orphanage in Kubwa, Abuja.

The suspect was arrested following credible intelligence on suspicious activities on March 20 2025 at Mother Deborah Orphanage.

However, police operatives from Kubwa Division swiftly stormed the location, leading to the rescue of a three-year-old child, suspected to have been stolen from Kaduna State.

Two suspects, including the orphanage owner, Ijeoma Andy, were arrested while efforts are ongoing to track down other accomplices.

Adeh wrote, “In a major breakthrough in the fight against child trafficking and missing persons, the FCT Police Command has successfully rescued 23 children from a suspected child trafficking syndicate operating under the guise of an orphanage in Kubwa, Abuja.

“Further investigations uncovered a shocking discovery of 22 additional children, aged between 2 and 14 years (14 females and 8 males), believed to be victims of child trafficking. When interrogated, Ijeoma Andy failed to provide a reasonable account of the children’s origins or how they ended up in her facility. The 22 rescued children have since been taken into protective care, where they are receiving the necessary attention.

“The FCT Police Command assures residents that the Command will stop at nothing to dismantle criminal networks preying on innocent children and persons.

“The FCT Police Command calls on the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the Police through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, and 07057337653.”