The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) says it has rescued more than 180 children allegedly trafficked from five states by criminal groups posing as members of civil society organisations (CSOs).
The agency said the suspected traffickers approached parents in vulnerable communities with offers of educational assistance and back-to-school programmes before taking the children away under false pretences.
NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu Bello raised concerns over the activities of trafficking syndicates targeting crisis-affected communities.
According to Bello, the groups move from one distressed community to another, allegedly using educational support as a cover to traffic children.
She said NAPTIP subsequently established a special squad within its investigation and monitoring department to rescue the children, dismantle the trafficking networks and ensure the prosecution of those involved.
Among those rescued were three children allegedly taken from a distressed parent in Kajuru, Kaduna State, to Onitsha, Anambra State.
Another child was found in the care of a clinical staff member at the Federal Medical Centre, Onitsha. The nurse, who was questioned on Tuesday, reportedly told investigators that she obtained the child from an Abuja-based orphanage in 2023 after paying N771,000.
NAPTIP said the name of the orphanage was withheld.
The agency also said the first batch of children recovered by the special squad had been taken from communities in Benue and Nasarawa states and moved to orphanages in Abuja and other states.
Bello said some of the children were allegedly sold to unidentified individuals under the guise of adoption after payments were made.
The NAPTIP DG expressed concern over the alleged involvement of individuals posing as CSO members in child trafficking.
She acknowledged the contributions of genuine CSOs to humanitarian and anti-trafficking efforts but warned that criminal elements appeared to have infiltrated the sector.
Bello said NAPTIP would intensify efforts to identify and dismantle the networks allegedly behind the trafficking and reunite the rescued children with their families where possible.