The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued eight children suspected to have been stolen from Kano and neighbouring states and trafficked to the South.
The operation, carried out in Asaba, Delta State, followed a raid on a popular orphanage by NAPTIP in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigerian Police, and civil society groups.
NAPTIP’s spokesperson, Vincent Adekoye, confirmed the development in a statement on Tuesday titled “NAPTIP rescues eight suspected stolen children from a popular orphanage in Asaba.”
According to the agency, intelligence gathered showed that syndicates posing as traders had been luring children aged between two and 10 years from northern communities since at least 2017, before transporting them to the South.
In the Asaba orphanage, operatives discovered over 70 children, including 15 newborns, but only eight were confirmed as those abducted from Kano. They have since been reunited with their families.
“The rescued children were identified through their pictures and other features by the representative of the concerned parents from Kano State, out of the over 70 children found inside the orphanage,” said NAPTIP Director General Binta Bello.
Bello raised concerns over the “unwholesome activities” of some orphanages and care homes, questioning the source of the large numbers of children housed in such facilities.
She also accused the operator of the Asaba orphanage of spreading falsehoods on social media instead of cooperating with investigators.
“On the day of the operation, our operatives met the wife of the owner of the orphanage. She was not arrested because she was not our target. Contact information was left behind so that the owner could reach us,” Bello clarified.
NAPTIP revealed that child kidnapping incidents peaked in 2022, when more than 25 children were allegedly trafficked out of the North, prompting petitions from parents and civil society groups.
The DG urged state ministries of women affairs to intensify monitoring of orphanages nationwide while reiterating the agency’s commitment to enforcing the Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organisations and Centres) Regulations 2019.
She commended the DSS, the police, and other partners for their collaboration, stressing that the operation demonstrated NAPTIP’s resolve to combat child trafficking and protect vulnerable children.
About the author
Airing marital issues online is my dealbreaker, says Nasboi
Nigerian skit maker and singer Nasiru Lawal, popularly known as Nasboi, has revealed that taking private marital issues to social media is a clear dealbreaker for him. He said he would not tolerate a situation where problems that could be resolved at home are instead aired on the internet. In a post shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account, Nasboi wrote that if he gets married and his wife brings a private issue they could have settled indoors to the internet, that would be the end of the marriage for him. “If I get married and my wife brings a private issue we could’ve settled at home to the internet, that’s a dealbreaker for me,” he stated. The entertainer’s stance quickly went viral, with blogs quoting him as saying he would divorce any wife who takes their marital problems online. […]
Government role won’t end my music career – Davido
Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, says holding a government position will not mark the end of his music career. He made this known while addressing questions about his growing involvement in politics and public service. During a recent livestream and follow up media interviews, Davido explained that if he ever decides to work in government, he would continue to perform, though he might appear less frequently on stage. “If I ever decide to work in government, I’d still be performing, but not all the time,” he said, stressing that public office would not stop him from being an artist. The Grammy nominated singer said he has studied examples of entertainers who successfully combined politics and music, citing in particular former Haitian president and singer Michel Martelly. According to him, these examples show that it is possible to […]
Foundation unveils Africa’s first Music Hall of Fame ceremony
A Lagos based arts foundation has announced plans to stage what it describes as Africa’s first ever Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony to celebrate the continent’s most influential artists and preserve their legacy. The initiative aims to create a formal African platform similar in spirit to global institutions like the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. According to the organisers, the inaugural induction will take place in Lagos in 2026, with a red carpet ceremony, live performances and tributes to a carefully selected class of music legends. The event is expected to feature icons from different eras and genres, including highlife, juju, Afrobeat, Fuji, hip hop, gospel and Afrobeats. The foundation behind the project says its mission is to “celebrate Nigerian and African music legends while preserving music legacy” through a permanent Hall of Fame platform. Beyond the annual […]
FIFA president defends ‘astronomical’ 2026 World Cup ticket prices
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended the record high ticket prices for the 2026 World Cup despite mounting criticism from fans’ groups and commentators. Supporters have branded the pricing “extortionate” and “shameful,” with some seats for the final reportedly costing several thousand dollars. The most expensive ticket for the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar was around 1,600 dollars at face value, but for the 2026 final in North America the top category is now about 11,000 dollars. Even group stage matches range from around 140 dollars up to 2,735 dollars, with prices rising sharply in the knockout rounds. Infantino argued that FIFA has to “apply market rates” because the tournament is taking place in the United States, Canada and Mexico, where sports and entertainment pricing is already very high. He said demand has been “absolutely crazy,” with more than […]
Full list of teams that have won the Champions League unbeaten
Only a select group of clubs have managed to win the European Cup or UEFA Champions League without losing a single match in the entire campaign. Their unbeaten runs place them in an elite class of continental champions. According to historical records, 11–12 clubs have achieved this feat, some of them more than once. They include Inter Milan, Ajax, Nottingham Forest, AC Milan, Liverpool, Red Star Belgrade, Olympique de Marseille, Manchester United, Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City. Here are some of the standout unbeaten winners from the group stage era highlighted by recent reports: AC Milan (1988/89): 5 wins, 4 draws. AC Milan (1993/94): 4 wins, 4 draws. Red Star Belgrade (1990/91): 5 wins, 4 draws. Olympique de Marseille (1992/93): 6 wins, 4 draws. Manchester United (1998/99): 6 wins, 7 draws. Manchester United (2007/08): 9 wins, 4 draws. Barcelona […]
Osimhen linked with fresh potential summer move to PSG
Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen has once again been linked with a potential big money move to Paris Saint Germain ahead of the summer transfer window. The French champions are reportedly renewing their interest in the Super Eagles star as they plan another overhaul of their attack. Osimhen, who joined Galatasaray last summer after his spell with Napoli, has impressed in Turkey with his goals and overall play. His form has kept him on the radar of several top European clubs, including Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but PSG are said to be pushing hardest for his signature. Reports from European media suggest PSG are prepared to table an offer in the region of 120 million euros to test Galatasaray’s resolve. The Paris club see Osimhen as a powerful focal point who can lead the line, attack space in behind defences […]
Related
NDLEA uncovers underground drug caves, hideouts in Kano raid
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has uncovered a network of underground drug caves and hideouts in the Rimin Kebe area of Kano State. The discovery was made during a major crackdown on narcotics hotspots across the state. According to the NDLEA’s Kano Strategic Command, operatives stormed the Rimin Kebe enclave on May 4 as part of “Operation Sharar Mafaka,” a sustained operation targeting over 20 identified drug joints. During the raid, officers confirmed the existence of multiple underground caves constructed and used by dealers and users to hide drugs, weapons and other illegal items. The agency said the caves were dug beneath makeshift structures and concealed with iron sheets, wood and rubble to make detection difficult. Inside, operatives found evidence of prolonged stay, including mattresses, cooking utensils and traces of various illicit substances. At least 52 suspects have been […]
JUST IN: Akpabio, Oshiomhole clash as Senate tightens leadership rules
Senate President Godswill Akpabio and Edo North senator Adams Oshiomhole clashed on the floor of the Senate after the upper chamber amended its standing rules to tighten eligibility for top leadership positions. The changes are widely seen as reshaping the race for the 2027 Senate presidency and other principal offices. Under the amended rules, only ranking lawmakers with defined legislative experience will be eligible to contest for presiding roles such as Senate President and Deputy Senate President. The new provisions also bar first term senators and those without at least two consecutive terms from vying for principal offices. Revised Order 4 of the Senate Standing Rules reinforces a strict hierarchy for choosing presiding officers, listing, in order, former Senate Presidents, former Deputy Senate Presidents, former principal officers, senators who have served at least one four year term, then former members […]
JUST IN: FG bans honorary degree holders from using ‘Dr’ title
The Federal Government has banned recipients of honorary doctorate degrees from using the title “Dr” before their names in official and public settings. Under the new directive, the “Dr” title is now reserved strictly for holders of earned doctoral degrees and qualified medical doctors. The policy was communicated through fresh guidelines issued by the National Universities Commission as part of wider reforms on the award and use of honorary degrees. The NUC said the move aims to curb abuse of academic titles and protect the integrity of Nigeria’s university system. According to the Commission, honorary degree holders are no longer allowed to prefix their names with “Dr” based on such awards. Instead, they may indicate the honour using appropriate post nominal letters, such as D.Sc (Honoris Causa), after their names where necessary. NUC Executive Secretary Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu warned that […]
PDP crisis: Wike accuses Turaki, others of flouting court rulings
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory and influential Peoples Democratic Party leader, Nyesom Wike, has accused Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and his allies of disregarding clear court rulings in the ongoing PDP leadership crisis. He said the faction has continued to act in open defiance of binding judgments on the party’s disputed convention and national executive. Wike insisted that a series of court decisions, including those of the Federal High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, have already settled the questions around the legality of the PDP convention held in Ibadan and the leadership it produced. He accused the Turaki camp of twisting and misrepresenting the judgments to confuse party members and the public. According to him, the Court of Appeal ruling delivered on March 9 upheld an earlier Federal High Court decision that the processes leading to the […]
Rainstorm kills two, destroys over 50 houses in Kaduna LGA
A violent rainstorm has killed two people and destroyed more than 50 houses in Dokan Mai Jama’a community, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The incident occurred after a heavy downpour accompanied by strong winds that lasted for over an hour. Local sources said the storm ripped off roofs, pulled down walls and damaged property worth millions of naira. Several families were left homeless as their houses were either completely flattened or badly affected by the wind and rain. Community leaders have called on the Kaduna State Government, the National Emergency Management Agency and other humanitarian agencies to come to the aid of affected residents. They are appealing for relief materials such as roofing sheets, food items, bedding and other basic supplies to help victims rebuild their lives. The rainstorm is one of the first major weather related disasters […]
Akpabio says ADC is dead amid fresh National Assembly defections
Senate President Godswill Akpabio has declared that the African Democratic Congress is “dead” following a fresh wave of defections by its lawmakers in the National Assembly. He made the remark during plenary while reading letters from senators and members of the House of Representatives who announced their exit from the party. Akpabio’s comment came shortly after he read the resignation letter of Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who defected from the ADC to the Labour Party. As more defection letters were tabled, the Senate President joked that lawmakers leaving the ADC should “just compile everything in one paper” because, in his view, “ADC is dead.” Abaribe, who represents Abia South, said in his letter that his decision was driven by “ongoing legal uncertainties, multiple court cases and leadership crises” within the ADC. He described remaining in the party under such conditions as […]