Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, on Tuesday reunited 14 children rescued from traffickers in Anambra State with their parents.
Farauta explained that the children, aged between 4 and 9, were lured from communities in Adamawa and sold for between ₦800,000 and ₦1.7 million each by the syndicate led by a woman identified as Ngozi Abdulwahab. The trafficker operated from a provision shop in Jambutu, Yola-North, where she used snacks and gifts to lure unsuspecting children.
The Deputy Governor said the victims underwent medical checks, rehabilitation, and psychological support before being reunited. Parents of the children also received ₦100,000 each alongside food and non-food items to support reintegration. She assured that the suspect will face justice and directed the Ministry of Women Affairs and local welfare departments to conduct routine follow-ups on the children.
Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Neido Geoffrey, and Yola-North lawmaker, Suleiman Alkali, urged parents and religious leaders to strengthen child protection and parental responsibility.
Most of the rescued children were from Mubi-North, Mubi-South, Yola-North, and Yola-South LGAs, where their names had been changed to Igbo names to conceal their identities.