The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has announced the rescue of 15 minors allegedly trafficked and sold for N2 million each by a man posing as an official of a child-rights organisation.

NSCDC Public Relations Officer Babawale Afolabi disclosed the development while briefing journalists at the Corps Headquarters in Abuja, saying the rescue was carried out during a wider operation targeting criminal syndicates involved in child trafficking and vandalism.

The Corps also said stolen rifles and vandalised telecommunications equipment were recovered during the operation. According to Afolabi, a member of the alleged trafficking syndicate posed as an official of the National Council of Child Rights Advocate and deceived parents into releasing their children.

“Under the guise of operating an NGO and orphanage programme called the Back to School Project, he lured willing, less privileged parents into releasing their children with promises of free education,” Afolabi said. He said the operation was conducted by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, headed by Commander Dandaura Appollos.

Afolabi said 15 of 16 children allegedly trafficked from Kama Madaki and Gudindi Mada communities in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State were eventually rescued from their buyers. “Through advanced field tracking, technical intelligence and multi-state tactical sweeps, operatives of the CG’s SIS tracked down the buyers who were from different locations in the country,” he said.

According to the NSCDC spokesman, three of the minors were rescued in Anambra, Imo and Enugu states, while the remaining 12 were recovered during a coordinated operation along eastern transit routes. He further disclosed that three suspected buyers, comprising one man and two women, had been arrested in connection with the case. The NSCDC said investigations into the alleged trafficking network were continuing.