Human Trafficking Crackdown: NAPTIP Intercepts Adamawa-to-Edo Syndicate, Rescues Minors in Nasarawa

A Sophisticated Interstate Network

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has recorded a significant breakthrough in the fight against child exploitation following the interception of a suspected human trafficking syndicate in Nasarawa State. Operatives of the agency, in collaboration with the Department of State Services (DSS), have taken into custody two primary suspects allegedly involved in the clandestine movement of minors across several Nigerian states.

The Nasarawa State Commandant of NAPTIP, Sa’adatu Galadima, confirmed the arrests on Saturday, March 14, 2026, identifying the suspects as Asabe Bedan (33) and Calpurnia Ogianfen (40). The duo was intercepted while attempting to transport four minors from Karu Local Government Area in Nasarawa State, with Edo State as their intended destination.

From Adamawa to the South: A Wider Ring Uncovered

Preliminary investigations suggest that the four children rescued in this operation are just a fraction of a larger, more established trafficking ring. Galadima disclosed that the suspects are believed to have successfully trafficked over 20 children in recent months.

The Modus Operandi:

  • Source Region: The victims were predominantly sourced from Adamawa State in the North-East.

  • Transit Hub: Nasarawa State served as a strategic consolidation and transit point.

  • Final Destinations: The network reportedly moved the minors to Edo and Lagos States, where they are often subjected to exploitative domestic labour or other forms of modern-day slavery.

Ongoing Manhunt for Accomplices

NAPTIP is currently working in tandem with sister security agencies to dismantle the broader network. The Commandant emphasised that the investigation has been expanded to identify other "middlemen" and "receivers" who facilitate the illegal trade of children. The agency is also taking steps to ensure the rescued minors are provided with necessary psychological support and are safely reunited with their biological families in Adamawa.

Analysis: The Vulnerability of the North-East

This case highlights the persistent vulnerability of children in the North-East, particularly Adamawa, which traffickers increasingly view as a "harvesting ground" for unsuspecting minors. The collaboration between the DSS and NAPTIP in this instance underscores the need for high-level intelligence sharing to catch traffickers while they are in transit. For the residents of Karu and Lafia, the presence of such a network serves as a grim reminder that human trafficking is not a distant crime, but one that utilizes local transit routes and unsuspecting communities to hide in plain sight.

"Preliminary findings suggest the suspects may have been involved in the trafficking of more than 20 children... investigations are ongoing to uncover the full scope of this network." — Sa’adatu Galadima, Nasarawa State Commandant, NAPTIP