The FCT Police Command has uncovered a suspected child trafficking syndicate operating under the guise of an orphanage home in Saburi area of the Federal Capital Territory.
The development followed a petition dated January 29, 2026, submitted by concerned members of the Saburi community to the Office of the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, over alleged suspicious activities surrounding the facility.
According to a statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the Command acted swiftly by commencing a discreet and thorough investigation into the allegations.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the operators allegedly targeted indigent families in rural communities across the country, obtaining custody of children under the pretext of providing them access to education in urban cities and promising improved living conditions.
The statement said the children were instead trafficked to prospective buyers in various parts of the country through the structure of the orphanage.
“So far, twenty-one (21) out of forty-six (46) children trafficked through the illegal orphanage operation have been rescued and are undergoing procedures to ensure their safe reunification with their biological parents, while efforts continue to locate the remaining victims and apprehend all those connected to the crime,” the statement read.
The Command urged parents and guardians to exercise vigilance regarding the welfare of their children, warning that not all offers of sponsorship or improved opportunities were genuine.
It appreciated the vigilance and cooperation of the Saburi community and called on residents to promptly report suspicious persons or activities through its emergency lines: 08028940883 and 08032003913.