The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has intercepted a suspected child trafficking operation in Nyanya, Abuja, rescuing 17 young boys and girls and handed them over to the Nigeria Police Force for investigation.
According to the Assistant Corps Marshal and Corps Public Education Officer, Olusegun Ogungbemide in a release, the interception occurred on Saturday, January 17, 2026, when the afternoon patrol team of the Nyanya Unit Command stopped a white Sharon vehicle with registration number SHD 253 YU at the Building Materials axis of Nyanya. The vehicle, driven by Mr. Nanle John (36), was reportedly travelling from Shendam, Plateau State, to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.
Ogungbemide explained that FRSC officers became suspicious after observing an unusually high number of passengers packed into the vehicle. Further checks revealed that 17 minors were being conveyed, with two concealed in the vehicle’s boot, raising strong suspicion of human trafficking.
The vehicle was immediately impounded and the Unit Commander briefed. Preliminary questioning of the driver failed to provide satisfactory explanations, prompting the FRSC to activate inter-agency protocols. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mararaba Division, was contacted, and the driver, vehicle, and all rescued children were formally handed over to the police.
Following the handover, the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, CP Shetima Jauro Mohamed, directed that the minors be placed in protective custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lafia, while ordering a comprehensive investigation to uncover any trafficking network linked to the incident.
Reacting to the development, FRSC Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, said the operation underscored the Corps’ broader role beyond traffic management, stressing that officers are trained to be vigilant, humane, and proactive in identifying suspicious movements on Nigerian roads.
The FRSC commended the swift response of the Nigeria Police Force and reassured the public of its continued dedication to professionalism, vigilance, and inter-agency cooperation in safeguarding lives across the nation’s highways.
