Crime
Traffickers connive with Local Govt officials to sell baby for N400,000
I have boys as children; I only wanted to have a girl-child,” was the excuse given by Mrs Tina Raphael, a 60-year-old woman from Anambra State who was arrested by the Gombe State Police Command over her involvement in a case of suspected child trafficking.
In an interview with Saturday PUNCH, Raphael said she adopted the baby from a suspected trafficker she identified as Khadijah for N400,000, adding that she was introduced to the ailing child who was dying from malnutrition.
“I had been wanting to adopt a baby girl since January 1, 2024, and was told that one was available by Khadijah. The baby is one year old and she was not walking and was sick, so I asked her (Khadijah) to bring the baby to me to see what I could do to help her.
“After looking at the baby, I noticed that she was suffering from malnutrition and needed medical assistance; that’s why I asked her to bring the child after which I asked her how I could get legal papers for the custody of the baby since she works with social welfare (in the Ministry of Women Affairs) because she told me she works there.”
Narrating further, the 60-year-old woman disclosed that she was charged an amount for the documentation of the baby’s ownership and denied buying the baby.
“She (Khadijah) told me to bring N400,000 which I did. This happened on January 1, 2024, and I was hoping that she would come on Friday and hand over the papers to me, only for me to see her with police in my house and (the police) arrested me without the papers; that was how I got involved.
“I didn’t buy the baby with the money I gave her because she said she would hand over papers to me and that was what I had been waiting for,” Raphael added.
When our correspondent asked her whether she knew who the little girl’s mother was, she said she was told that the baby’s mother had died.
“The baby’s mother is dead and nobody is there to take care of her. She is sick and cannot walk and my husband welcomed the idea too because I have only male children,” she added.
Like Raphael, another resident of Gombe also from Anambra State, Ukamaka Ugo, who was also arrested for baby racketeering, claimed she was innocent.
Ugo said Khadijah had promised to ‘give’ her baby for a fee when they met in a market.
“There was a day I went to the market and met Khadijah carrying a baby girl on her back. We exchanged greetings and I told her that the baby she had on her back was beautiful and that I wished she could let me have her since I did not have any.
“She said she would not give me this one (the baby) but that she was a worker in the hospital with the social welfare department. She said any time she got a baby she would let me know,” she said.
Ugo told Saturday PUNCH that in April 2023, Khadijah informed her about a woman who recently had a baby but did not have money for the child’s well-being.
“Khadijah called in April 2023 that there was a girl and the mother was in the hospital, that she gave birth but didn’t have the resources to take care of the baby. When I heard what she said, I told her that I was interested.
She told me to buy some baby items and take them to the mother of the girl at the hospital so she (the baby’s mother) would hand the baby over to me. I gave her N50,000 to process everything,” she said.
While arguing that the child wasn’t sold, Ugo noted that the N50,000 included the child’s medication and other needs. She, however, admitted that the baby was later handed over to her to keep as hers.
“She (Khadijah) told me that she would not hand the baby over to me until she had processed everything at the social welfare office. She called me after a week on the phone and told me that she was through with the social welfare processes.
“When they came to carry the baby, she said the paper was not yet out from the social welfare office and that anytime that the paper was ready, she would hand it over to me.”
“After a week, I started training the baby like mine, that’s all I know. I didn’t steal any child; I thought I was dealing with the right person and from the right source because she told me she worked with the social welfare office,” she told our correspondent.
Ugo disclosed that the parents of the child had signed an undertaking to hand over the child to her.
“The mother of the baby, the grandmother, the baby’s father, and his brother all went to the social welfare (office) and signed that they had handed the baby over to me; that was why I agreed to take care of the baby. The N50,000 was for the delivery (hospital bill).”
But the family of the baby denied selling their child to the suspect. The father of the baby, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Saturday PUNCH that they chose to involve the police when Khadijah’s movement and actions became suspicious.
“We didn’t sell our daughter’s child, though we received some money from Khadijah. We were prevented from seeing the child, so we alerted the police because that was not what they (Khadijah) told us,” he added.
Babies not taken without parents’ consent – Khadijah
However, the prime suspect debunked the allegations of child theft and trafficking. Khadijah said she didn’t commit any crime. She told our correspondent that while she collaborated with some social welfare workers, none of the children were forcefully taken away from their families.
“I’m not a trafficker. I only linked the person who saw the baby with me to the social welfare (office).
“I didn’t sell any child but the person I linked them up with was given N400,000 and I gave the office N200,000 and got the other (half). I have never sold any baby before nor have I bought from anyone.
“None of the children were stolen; they unfortunately had poor parents who couldn’t take care of them or their mothers died. So, in such a case, the baby needed to be given ample support and care to survive,” she claimed.
Child abduction in Nigeria
Child abduction is fast becoming a major problem in Nigeria, with several cases reported in Gombe and other parts of the North.
In September 2020, the police in Gombe disclosed that they uncovered a human trafficking ring and rescued 12 children
“The suspect we have in our custody today took to her heels since 2017; she has been on the run, changing locations, and in her custody, we found 12 children from various locations.
“We can’t comfortably say they are all from Gombe. This breakthrough was done painstakingly by the combined team of the police and parents in conjunction with the state government because they provided all the logistics.”
In December, 2023, the police in Anambra State said they arrested a couple trafficking a one-month-old baby from Lagos. According to a statement issued by the state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, the interception was made at the River Niger Bridgehead in Onitsha on December 17.
In June 2023, five children were rescued from two suspected child traffickers in Auchi, Edo State. The children, all girls, aged between seven and nine, who travelled unaccompanied, were said to have arrived at Auchi in the evening from Kaduna and were trying to establish contact with the two suspected female traffickers to take them to Onitsha before they were rescued.
In September 2021, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Makurdi Zonal Command, said it arrested two suspects in connection with the sale of babies in the state.
The Zonal Commander, Mrs Gloria Bai, who disclosed this in Makurdi, the state capital, said two young victims were taken from Gboko and sold out in Lagos.
Khadijah did not act alone – Police
The Gombe State Police command explained that Khadija colluded with 15 others, including staff of Gombe Local Government Area, involved in the sale of babies, stressing that they were arrested following an intelligence report received from the Barunde community.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Mahid Abubakar, said, “The community claimed that sometime within last year, one Khadija Shehu-Manzo and 15 others were involved in selling young babies to people in need.
“Upon receipt of the report, detectives attached to Low-Cost Division swung into action where a full-blown investigation was carried out and the said Khadija was arrested.”
While Khadijah strongly denied her involvement in the crime, the police spokesman said, “The remaining suspects arrested confirmed that Shehu-Manzo allegedly sold two babies to Ukamaka Ugo on different occasions.
“Shehu-Manzo sold one child (for) N400,000 (and) out of the money (that came) from Tina Raphael, she gave N200,000 to one Haruna Abubakar, who is working with the social welfare (office in) Gombe in that he was going to make relevant documentation available for proper handing over of the child.
“Yahaya Sulaiman was the person who received the money on Abubakar’s behalf.
“Ukamaka Ugo bought two children; they are presently in Lagos and Anambra. We are working to see how to recover them as well,” he added.
Council official denies wrongdoing
But Abubakar, the Head of the Education and Social Development Department responsible for legitimising child adoption process in the Gombe Local Government Area, said the N200,000 he received from Khadijah was a gift and not a proceeds of crime.
The 50-year-old, “I work with the Gombe Local Government in the Education, Social Development Department. I was involved in a case through Hadisah (Khadijah) who came to our office to tell me that her sister was given a child for adoption and that they sent them to come to our office for us to document everything.”
“I told them since the mother of the child had passed away (died), she should invite the grandfather to come so that I can interview him. When he came, he said the same thing. So Hadisah (Khadijah) said she needed paper (documentation), but I objected saying there were procedures to getting a paper as there was a need to write applications for fostering, which included giving the paper to the ward head of their area to sign,
“It also included the passport of the woman who needed the child and the husband before one can proceed and it must be addressed to the Chairman of the Gombe Local Government Area then we can process the document to give you paper.”
On the alleged sum received, Abubakar added, “I told her to apply for the letter as we couldn’t give her the paper without proof. The money she gave I used N20,000 out of the money to give to the grandfather, and the rest (was) for us to share.
“She didn’t bring the application. I didn’t charge her N200,000; she decided to give me the money, I didn’t charge her anything as we don’t charge to process documents.”
When contacted by our correspondent, the state coordinator of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, Aminu Shira, declined comment.
He said, “After completing the investigation, we will call the media for a briefing. Anything I tell you will tamper with it (the investigation).”
Child adoption without due process is human trafficking, says HRC
However, the Human Rights Commission taking custody of a child without following the process back by law was tantamount to human trafficking.
Speaking with our correspondent, the Public Relations Officer of the Gombe officer of the NHC, Alola Alfinti, said, “You can’t just pick someone from the street or just take a child and adopt them. There are laid down procedures, and legal processes up to a court.
“You can have legal custody of a child if you follow the process but there are gatekeepers in the state when it comes to this, including the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development which has a registry. If you go there, they would give you the child but you would have to complete the court processes.”
Alfinti, explained that a child adoption process could take many years to complete.
“I remember there was a time when one child was adopted in Gombe. It took about 10 years and they (foster parents) wanted to fly him abroad.
“They were caught at the airport (with the child) but they had to come back to Gombe to find out whether they followed laid down processes. Fortunately, when they came, documents were backing the child’s adoption. If you follow the processes, there wouldn’t be problems,” he added.
PUNCH
The abductors, who attacked schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15, are said to be demanding the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law.
The two commanders whose release is reportedly being sought are Mahmud Usman, also known as Abu Bara’a or Abbas Mukhtar, and his deputy, Abubakar Abba, alias Isah Adam or Mahmud Al-Nigeri, also called Mallam Mamuda.
The duo are leaders of Jama’atu Ansarul Muslimeena Fii Bilaadis Sudan, JAMBS, also known as Ansaru — a breakaway faction of Boko Haram — and are alleged to have aided and abetted acts of terrorism in the country between 2013 and 2015.
They are also linked to the 2022 Kuje prison break.
They were arrested between May and July 2025 and are currently standing trial on terrorism charges before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CR/464/2025, with their trial commencing on January 15, 2026.
Usman was sentenced to 15 years in prison by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 11, 2025, after pleading guilty to one count of illegal mining — which he admitted he used to fund arms procurement for terrorism and kidnapping.
He denied 31 other counts and remains in DSS custody pending trial on those charges.
Other reports indicate the ransom demand stands at ₦1bn, to be paid into a bank account in the Republic of Benin. PUNCH Online could not independently verify this figure.
Security analysts have warned that releasing the commanders would pose serious risks to national security.
A retired Brigadier-General, Bashir Adewinbi, speaking with Saturday PUNCH said the situation had put the government in a tight corner, warning that paying ransom or releasing terrorist commanders would embolden criminal groups and fund further attacks.
Another retired Brigadier-General, Peter Aro, urged the government to first establish proof that the abductees were still alive before taking any decision, noting that prolonged captivity posed serious risks, particularly for young children.
The Oyo State Government has declined to comment on the demands or the state of negotiations, with the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, saying it would be “unhelpful” to disclose the government’s strategy while efforts to secure the victims’ release were ongoing.
On May 17, two days after the attack, the abductors released a video showing the beheading of one of the kidnapped teachers, Michael Oyedokun, a mathematics teacher at Community High School, Ahoro-Esinele.
Governor Seyi Makinde confirmed the killing in a statement on Monday, May 18, describing it as deeply painful.
By Okey Maduforo Awka
A total of eight suspected fake Pastors were on Friday arraigned before the Awka High Court in Anambra state.
Recall that Governor Charles Soludo had at a church service in Awka announced that some suspected fake Pastors are already under the custody of the state government for activities that are unbecoming of their roles as servants in God’s Vineyard.
Recall also that at the peak of the clampdown on fake Native Doctors, the affected Native Doctors protested that the Anambra state government has been neck deep in selective justice contending that the fake Pastors obtain their powers from Native Doctors.
They queried why their colleagues are being arrested while their clients who are Pastors are left to walk the streets freely.
It was against this backdrop that the Anambra state government beamed it’s searchlight on the activities of some Pastors which led to the arraignment of eight suspected fake Pastors.
It was gathered that the alleged fake pastors violated the 2025 Homeland Security law established by the administration of Prof Charles Soludo.
The Senior Special Assistant to Soludo on New Media Sir Ejimofor Opara who confirmed the development said the Homeland security law was passed in February 2025 and it frowns at certain forms of religious practices that are deemed inimical to the public, especially as it pertains to creation of illegal wealth.
Last year, some native doctors who were promoting get-rich-quick practices (Okeite rituals) were also arrested and prosecuted accordingly with some of them serving jail terms while othere are currently undergoing trial.ls.
The names of those arraigned before the High Court include; Peter Chukwu, Chinedu Egwuonwu, Bishop Emeka Nwankpa, Ebele Nnachukwu and Ekeleme Chris Ugochukwu.
Others are Ndubisi Nnachukwu,
Miracle Iruoma and Chukwukadibia Ogwuama.
The State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Tobechukwu Nweke, SAN, is leading the prosecution.
The Muslim community in Oyo State has condemned the Sharia-related demands reportedly made by terrorists holding teachers and pupils abducted from schools in Oriire Local Government Area, declaring that the criminals do not represent Islam or Muslims.
The position came as public and private schools across Oyo State’s 33 local government areas shut down in solidarity with the abducted victims.
Also, security analysts in separate interviews, offered differing views on how the Federal Government could respond to the terrorists’ demands.
The abductors, who attacked three schools in Esinele, Yawota and Alawusa communities on May 15, reportedly demanded the release of detained terrorist commanders, payment of ransom, two Hilux vehicles and the implementation of Sharia-related law before freeing the captives.
In a statement issued on Friday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Ishaq Sanvni, and Secretary-General, Alhaji Murisiku Siyanbade, the Muslim community in Oyo State described the terrorists’ action as criminal and contrary to Islamic teachings.
The group said attempts by the abductors to justify their actions through religious rhetoric amounted to a distortion of Islam.
“Islam forbids kidnapping, terrorism and the extortion of innocent citizens. Legitimate Sharia promotes justice, peace and the sanctity of human life, values that stand in direct opposition to the activities of criminal groups,” the statement said.
The organisation added that terrorists could not claim to speak on behalf of Muslims.
“Terrorists do not represent Islamic values and cannot speak for Muslims,” it stated.
Quoting Chapter 5 Verse 32 of the Holy Qur’an, the community stressed that Islam places a high premium on the protection of human life and urged security agencies to intensify efforts to rescue those in captivity.
The development came amid growing concerns over the fate of the abducted teachers and pupils.
A traditional ruler in one of the affected communities, the Eleshi of Esiele, Oba Tajudeen Abioye, appealed to the government to secure the release of the victims.
“We are aware of the ransom demands of the terrorists, but we are helpless. We are looking up to the government and pleading for intervention,” he said.
Schools shut in 33LGAs
Findings by revealed that the management of private schools issued a statement on Wednesday directing all schools to shut down from Friday, June 5.
One of the internal memos obtained by our correspondent in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday read, “Due to the situation at hand and the ongoing protest in the state, all pupils and students should stay at home until further notice. No school for now until further notice.”
Also, a message circulated to private schools by the Ibadan District Chairman of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, Joshua Olaoluwa, and obtained by Saturday PUNCH, read, “Good day, all school owners/administrators. Due to the recent kidnapping of teachers and students in Oriire LGA and rising security concerns, all NAPPS member schools in Ibadan District will be closed on Friday, June 5, 2026, as a mark of solidarity and for prayers for the victims’ safe release and the protection of all schools.
“If anyone tries to disrupt school activities before or after Friday, please record a video if it is safe to do so, report to the nearest police station, and inform your NAPPS LGA coordinator and the district office immediately.”
The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, Fatai Hassan, had earlier disclosed that all public secondary and primary schools would remain closed until the abductees are rescued alive.
Speaking in Ibadan, the chairman of the Parents-Teachers Association of one of the affected schools, who requested anonymity, said, “We had already held a meeting over the closure of the school. You know this is more or less a remote area. It is not that remote, but we cannot compare schools in this environment with those around the Agbowo-UI, Bodija, Sango or Mokola axis.
“But we had to consider those students writing their terminal examinations. Otherwise, we would have joined the public protest since Monday. We eventually shut down the school on Wednesday,” the source said.
It was gathered that the bandits entered the community at about 1am, shooting sporadically to scare residents. They reportedly destroyed two houses before picking up the victim and whisking him away to an unknown destination. The boy, identified as Oluwatobi, is said to be the son of a pastor in the community, Isaac Olaosebikan.
A source said that, on hearing the sporadic gunshots, residents of the community fled their homes and ran to neighbouring communities for safety.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Abayomi, who confirmed the incident in a WhatsApp message, said efforts were ongoing to rescue the victim and apprehend the perpetrators.
He said, “The Ondo State Police Command has commenced an intensive manhunt for suspected kidnappers who abducted a nine-year-old boy during a violent attack on residents of Ugbosi Quarters, Idogun, in Ose Local Government Area of the state.
“The incident was reported in the early hours of Friday, 5th June 2026, at about 2:30 a.m. by Mr. Olaosebikan Isaac and Mr. Joel Owalekan, both residents of Ugbosi Quarters, Idogun. According to their reports, at approximately 1:30 a.m. on the same day, a group of armed men invaded the community, firing gunshots sporadically and causing panic among residents.
He added that personnel of the command and the Amotekun Corps had been mobilised to the scene and had launched a coordinated search-and-rescue operation.
“Security operatives combed the surrounding forests and likely escape routes in a bid to rescue the abducted child and apprehend the perpetrators,” the PPRO stated.
Jimoh also noted that investigations had commenced while relevant exhibits had been recovered and documented to determine the circumstances surrounding the attack and track down those responsible.
“The State Commissioner of Police, Ondo State Command, CP Felix Ohagwu, has directed all tactical teams, intelligence units and other relevant security assets to intensify efforts toward the immediate rescue of the victim unhurt and the arrest of the perpetrators.
“The Command is also working closely with other security agencies and local vigilante groups to ensure that the criminals are brought to justice.”
Ogunleye was arraigned on Wednesday alongside three other suspects before a Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.
The Ekiti State Police Command said the suspects were brought before the court after the conclusion of investigations into the matter.
The prosecutor, Akinwale Oriyimi, informed the court that the case file had been forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice.
Oriyimi subsequently requested the court to remand the defendants pending further directives from the DPP.
Ruling on the application, the Chief Magistrate, Abayomi Adeosun, ordered that Ogunleye and the other defendants be remanded at the Ado-Ekiti Correctional Centre pending further proceedings.
Kano Times recalls that Ogunleye was declared missing on May 20 after her vehicle was reportedly found abandoned along the Ipere–Iludun Ekiti Road.
Reports at the time indicated that she was allegedly abducted by suspected gunmen shortly after leaving the local government secretariat.
She was later found unharmed during a joint operation involving security agencies.
However, police investigations later alleged that the kidnapping was staged in a bid to raise money to offset financial obligations and outstanding political commitments.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government Area, Pius Dada, condemned the alleged act.
Dada described the incident as embarrassing and unacceptable, warning that such actions could undermine public confidence in government officials and security agencies.
He further stated that no public office holder would be protected from prosecution if found culpable of any wrongdoing.
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