The Federal Capital Territory Police Command has uncovered a suspected child trafficking syndicate operating under the guise of an orphanage home in the Saburi area of Abuja, rescued 21 children during a coordinated operation.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, the discovery followed a petition submitted on January 29, 2026, by concerned residents of the Saburi community to the Office of the Commissioner of Police, raising alarm over suspicious activities linked to the facility.
The Command said it immediately launched a discreet and comprehensive investigation into the allegations, which revealed that the orphanage operators allegedly targeted indigent families in rural communities across Nigeria. The suspects reportedly obtained custody of children under the pretext of providing education and better living opportunities in urban centres.
Preliminary findings, however, indicated that the children were instead trafficked to prospective buyers across different parts of the country through the illegal orphanage operation.
Police confirmed that 21 out of the 46 children believed to have passed through the facility have so far been rescued. The victims are currently undergoing procedures aimed at ensuring their safe reunification with their biological parents, while efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining children and arrest all individuals connected to the crime.
The Command urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant about the welfare of their children, warning that not all offers of sponsorship or improved opportunities are genuine.
It also commended members of the Saburi community for their vigilance and cooperation, encouraging the public to promptly report suspicious persons or activities through its emergency lines: 08028940883 and 08032003913.
The police reaffirmed their commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and dismantling criminal networks involved in human trafficking and child exploitation within the Federal Capital Territory.
