The Zone 2 Police Command in Onikan, Lagos, has rescued five children and apprehended a suspected child trafficking syndicate.
Assistant Inspector General (AIG) Adegoke Fayoade, who oversees Zone 2, confirmed the development to journalists on Monday, revealing that the children—four boys and one girl—were between the ages of one and six.
How the Syndicate Operated
Fayoade stated that on January 8, the police received intelligence on the activities of the syndicate, which specializes in stealing, buying, and selling newborns, toddlers, and children of various ages.
“The syndicate operates with three key members: one supplies the children, another acts as the middle person and caregiver, while the third is responsible for taking care of the children before handing them over to buyers,” he explained.
The police team, led by CSP Ngozi Braide, rescued the children, whose identities had been altered by the traffickers.
Disturbing Transactions and Rescues
Fayoade detailed how the syndicate manipulated children’s identities after selling them.
A one-year-old boy was sold when he was just one week old. The buyer later resold him to a couple residing in Italy, who left him in the care of the syndicate’s caregiver.
A three-year-old boy was sold in 2021 for ₦500,000.
Another one-year-old boy was sold by his biological mother in September 2024 to an unknown buyer. He was later resold for ₦1.5 million to someone in Alausa, Ikeja, but was eventually rescued on January 28 in Owerri.
A six-year-old boy was allegedly bought by the prime suspect for ₦800,000 in Mbaise, Imo State, when he was just one week old.
One of the rescued boys was found in Owerri under the care of a supposed nanny, who claimed she was employed by her sister, who resides in California, USA. The same nanny also had custody of a three-year-old girl, whom she said was brought to her as a newborn by her sister in the US.
Syndicate Runs Out of Luck
Fayoade noted that the syndicate was highly organized and rarely failed in its criminal operations, but its latest attempt was foiled by the police.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have vowed to dismantle the trafficking network completely.
