The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Abia State Command, has rescued a baby boy allegedly trafficked from Abuja and sold in Aba, Abia State.
The baby, renamed Godswill Kalu Awa (alias), was recovered on May 14, 2025, following a joint operation by the agency and operatives of the Department of State Services, DSS.
This was disclosed in a statement posted on NAPTIP’s official Facebook handle on Monday, where the agency confirmed that the suspected trafficker had been arrested and handed over by DSS Abia Command.
According to NAPTIP, the female suspect confessed during interrogation that she was working with three trafficking syndicates based in Abuja. The syndicates reportedly sold the child to a buyer in Aba for ₦1.8 million, while the suspect herself received ₦100,000 from the deal.
The syndicate members are currently on the run, and the agency says a manhunt is underway to apprehend them.
“She confessed that the Abuja-based syndicates facilitated the sale of the baby. They are on the run, but we are tracking them. The suspect is in custody and will face prosecution,” the agency stated via its handle.
NAPTIP further disclosed that the child is in safe custody and that efforts are ongoing to trace his biological parents or relatives.
“We are calling on the biological parents, guardians, or any relatives of the rescued baby to urgently contact the Abia State Command of NAPTIP. The child is being properly cared for while we complete investigations,” the agency said.
The agency used the opportunity to emphasize the importance of public vigilance and collective efforts in ending human trafficking in Nigeria.
“This incident is a reminder of the dangers many children face in the hands of traffickers. We encourage the public to report suspicious activities. Every tip could save a life,” the statement added.
