Inside Delta
Eight suspected stolen children rescued from Delta orphanage
Written By: Abdullahi Izuagbe
16 Sep 2025 12:14 PM
Asaba, Delta – In a significant operation aimed at curbing child trafficking, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued eight children suspected to have been stolen from a popular orphanage in Asaba, Delta State.
The agency’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, raised alarms over the "unhealthy activities" of some orphanages and care homes across Nigeria, signaling a broader concern about the welfare of vulnerable children.
The rescue operation, detailed in a press release issued earlier today, involved NAPTIP operatives who targeted the privately owned orphanage following years of distress calls from affected parents and pressure from stakeholders, particularly in Kano State.
The children, believed to have been trafficked from northern Nigeria to the South-East and South-South regions by an inter-state child trafficking syndicate, were successfully recovered during a raid on the facility.
According to the press release, more than 70 children, including 15 newborn babies, were found at the Asaba orphanage. However, only eight were positively identified by parents from Kano and have since been reunited with their families.
The operation underscores NAPTIP’s ongoing efforts to dismantle networks involved in the illicit trade of children, often disguised as legitimate orphanage operations.
The statement highlighted that the owner of the orphanage has been evading investigation, with the agency encountering only his wife during the raid.
Contact was left for the owner to come forward, but he has reportedly refused to cooperate. The rescued children have been handed over to the Kano State Government for further care and reunification processes.
NAPTIP’s Director-General expressed deep concern over the rising number of suspicious activities within orphanages and care homes across the country.
She urged state ministries of women affairs to intensify scrutiny of these facilities and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing the Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organisations and Centres) Regulations, 2019.
“We commend the DSS, the Nigeria Police, and other partners for their collaboration. This operation underscores our commitment to combat child trafficking, protect vulnerable children, and ensure justice is served,” Bello stated.
The press release also noted that this is not an isolated incident. Historical data suggests a pattern of "baby factories" operating under the guise of orphanages, where children are stolen, trafficked, or exploited.
NAPTIP has vowed to continue monitoring and regulating these institutions to prevent further abuses.
The agency has called on the public to report any suspicious activities related to orphanages and care homes, emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy toward human trafficking.
As investigations continue, NAPTIP remains committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice and safeguarding Nigeria’s children.
The agency’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, raised alarms over the "unhealthy activities" of some orphanages and care homes across Nigeria, signaling a broader concern about the welfare of vulnerable children.
The rescue operation, detailed in a press release issued earlier today, involved NAPTIP operatives who targeted the privately owned orphanage following years of distress calls from affected parents and pressure from stakeholders, particularly in Kano State.
The children, believed to have been trafficked from northern Nigeria to the South-East and South-South regions by an inter-state child trafficking syndicate, were successfully recovered during a raid on the facility.
According to the press release, more than 70 children, including 15 newborn babies, were found at the Asaba orphanage. However, only eight were positively identified by parents from Kano and have since been reunited with their families.
The operation underscores NAPTIP’s ongoing efforts to dismantle networks involved in the illicit trade of children, often disguised as legitimate orphanage operations.
The statement highlighted that the owner of the orphanage has been evading investigation, with the agency encountering only his wife during the raid.
Contact was left for the owner to come forward, but he has reportedly refused to cooperate. The rescued children have been handed over to the Kano State Government for further care and reunification processes.
NAPTIP’s Director-General expressed deep concern over the rising number of suspicious activities within orphanages and care homes across the country.
She urged state ministries of women affairs to intensify scrutiny of these facilities and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing the Trafficking in Persons (Control of Activities of Organisations and Centres) Regulations, 2019.
“We commend the DSS, the Nigeria Police, and other partners for their collaboration. This operation underscores our commitment to combat child trafficking, protect vulnerable children, and ensure justice is served,” Bello stated.
The press release also noted that this is not an isolated incident. Historical data suggests a pattern of "baby factories" operating under the guise of orphanages, where children are stolen, trafficked, or exploited.
NAPTIP has vowed to continue monitoring and regulating these institutions to prevent further abuses.
The agency has called on the public to report any suspicious activities related to orphanages and care homes, emphasizing its zero-tolerance policy toward human trafficking.
As investigations continue, NAPTIP remains committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice and safeguarding Nigeria’s children.
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