Bus Transporting 59 Suspected Trafficked Kano Children Intercepted

Hussaini Ibrahim Kafi in Kano

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has intercepted a white Peugeot 15-seater bus transporting 59 children, aged between four and 12 years, suspected to be victims of trafficking. The vehicle, with registration number KMC 283 ZJ, was stopped along the Abuja-Kano route on January 6 by a team led by Deputy Superintendent of Police Sarki Umar.

The driver, Ali Ibrahim, and his assistant, Alhassan Ibrahim, both residents of Kano State, were apprehended. According to the FCT Commissioner of Police (CP) Tunji Disu, preliminary investigations revealed that the children, from various families in Kano State, were allegedly being transported to Nasarawa State under the guise of receiving training.

The commissioner noted that the suspected organizer, identified as Idris Usman from Nasarawa State, allegedly arranged the transport without proper documentation or parental consent. “This incident has been classified as a case of suspected child abuse and trafficking,” Disu stated during a press briefing in Abuja.

The suspects, the vehicle, and the children are currently in police custody as investigations continue. Authorities have assured the public of their commitment to ensuring the safety of the children and bringing the culprits to justice.