NAPTIP Rescues Over 180 Trafficked Children in Nigeria

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued over 180 children from trafficking networks that prey on families affected by violence and hardship. The operations span five states, including the recent recovery of three children from Kajuru, Kaduna State, found in a high-rise building in Onitsha, Anambra State.

A father from Kajuru recounted the traumatic experience of losing his son, who was taken by individuals claiming to represent an NGO offering education. After three years of uncertainty, the father was overwhelmed with joy upon reuniting with his son, who is now six years old.

The father described how he and other parents were deceived into allowing their children to be taken away under false pretenses of providing education. The situation underscores a troubling aspect of child trafficking, where criminal groups exploit the credibility of humanitarian efforts to target vulnerable families.