Gombe Raises Alarm Over Child Trafficking as 48 Children Go Missing
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya
Gombe, Nigeria – Muhammadu Yahaya, Governor of Gombe State, has raised the alarm over a disturbing rise in child trafficking and abductions, revealing that at least 48 young children from the state have been taken to unknown destinations.
Speaking on Friday during the distribution of Ramadan palliatives, the governor said official records showed that children aged between two and five were trafficked out of the state under unclear circumstances.
“From available records, 48 Gombe children have been taken to other parts of the world. Their parents are here, but we do not know where the children are or if they will ever be found,” Yahaya said.
The governor linked recent security breaches to the partial relaxation of restrictions on commercial motorcycle operations, citing a recent abduction incident at Orji Estate.
“With the easing of the motorcycle ban, a boy was abducted, though he was thankfully rescued,” he noted.
Yahaya called for urgent and decisive action to curb emerging threats, urging security agencies and communities to remain vigilant.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s past, the governor questioned the factors driving rising insecurity. “There was a time when we lived in peace. What has changed? We must identify it and act decisively, no matter how difficult,” he said.
The governor also announced that 70,000 residents would benefit from the state’s 2026 Ramadan palliative programme, targeting vulnerable groups including persons with disabilities, religious organisations, orphanages, and low-income households.
He urged distribution committee members to act with integrity and compassion, while calling on philanthropists, faith-based organisations, and corporate bodies to support vulnerable citizens during the fasting period.
Yahaya noted that Ramadan coinciding with the Christian Lenten season underscored shared values of sacrifice, compassion, and unity, urging residents to promote peace and tolerance.
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Oluwafunbi Bello 
Otamere Gladness 