Operatives of the Niger State Police Command rescued four young children, aged between four and seven, from suspected traffickers operating under the guise of adoption and orphanage services.

The children were recovered on June 3, 2026, during a raid on a residence behind the old NEPA area in Suleja, where police arrested two women: Mrs Promise Chukwudi, 68, and her accomplice, Mrs Suzanna Onojekwo, 62. One of the children was found in Onojekwo’s residence on Church Road in the same town.

The suspects claimed the children, all originally from Karim-Lamido in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, had been lawfully released to them by their parents between November 2025 and February 2026 for adoption purposes.

Chukwudi further told investigators that she previously operated an orphanage known as Precious Promise Nursery, Primary and Orphanage Home in 2022, which she resumed in November 2025, and that she described herself as a licensed herbal medical practitioner.

Police investigations revealed a different picture. Contrary to the suspects’ claims, several parents from Abuja, Nasarawa, and Benue States emerged to claim the children, casting serious doubt on the adoption narrative.

A search of the premises uncovered disturbing items, including a shrine, animal skulls, pieces of multicoloured clothing, bird feathers, and other fetish objects, heightening suspicions of ritual-related activities.

The Niger State Police Command said the State Intelligence Department carried out the operation on the basis of credible intelligence. Both suspects have been transferred to the Police Headquarters in Minna for further discreet investigation.

The rescued children have been handed over to the relevant child rights agency for proper care and protection, while efforts to fully identify and reunite them with their biological parents continue.

The suspects have been charged in court with criminal conspiracy, alleged child trafficking, and related offences. (The Nation)

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