By Mustapha Mustapha
The Nigerian Police Force in Sokoto State has successfully rescued about 20 children, who have now been placed in the care of a local orphanage. This announcement was made by the state Commissioner of Police, Ali Kaigama, during a press briefing at the command headquarters.
Kaigama revealed that 10 suspects connected to the trafficking of these children have been arrested. Among them is Bala Abubakar, from the Tudun Wada area of Sokoto, who allegedly sold the children to individuals named Kulu Dongoyaro and Elizabeth Ojah for amounts ranging between N150,000 and N250,000. The suspects claimed the children were being taken to a non-governmental organization in Abuja that would provide for their welfare.
In a separate case, the police apprehended Saifullah Hassan from the Gunmi Local Government area of Zamfara State, who is suspected of murdering Balikisu Garba near the Ifeoma Hotel. Following a report from the hotel manager about the discovery of Garba’s body, police investigations led to Hassan’s identification and subsequent arrest in Funtua, Katsina State.
Additionally, the police reported the successful rescue of Barrister Rukayat, who was kidnapped in the Bado area. A joint operation with the military and local vigilante groups allowed officers to trace the kidnappers to a forested area. During the rescue, one suspect was killed and another injured, while various items, including ammunition and personal belongings, were recovered.
The Commissioner of Police reassured the public of their ongoing commitment to maintaining law and order and praised Governor Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto for his support during the investigations. He urged the community to continue collaborating with law enforcement for a safer environment.