The Adamawa State Government on Wednesday reunited 14 children rescued from human traffickers in Anambra State with their families.

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, represented by his deputy, Prof. Kaletapwa Farauta, presided over the emotional handover at Government House, Yola.

According to the governor, the rescue followed intelligence reports in July 2025 about a string of missing children in Adamawa, mostly aged between four and nine. A coordinated operation involving the police, the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) led to the rescue and the arrest of the alleged kingpin, identified as Ngozi Abdulwahab, a middle-aged woman said to have operated from Jambutu ward in Yola North.

Farauta disclosed that the suspect lured children with snacks and gifts before trafficking them to the South-East, where each victim was sold for between N800,000 and N1.7 million.

“This notorious trafficker perfected the art of trafficking minors. It is monstrous and traumatic,” the deputy governor said, vowing that those involved would be prosecuted under multiple laws, including the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act (2015) and the Adamawa State Child Protection Law (2008).

She warned parents against negligence, stressing that children under 10 should not be sent on errands or to school without supervision.

“Adamawa State is the wrong place for human traffickers. We shall flush them out, dismantle their networks, and prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. Our citizens are our most cherished assets and must never be turned into commodities of trade,” she declared on behalf of Governor Fintiri.

To support the affected families, the state government presented each household with ₦100,000 cash, food items, and non-food relief materials.

Farauta urged parents to remain vigilant and more intentional in protecting their children, describing them as “sacred blessings from God.” She also encouraged residents to promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies.

Meanwhile, the rescued children, visibly shaken but safe, were received by their families in tears of relief and gratitude.