Metro
Traffickers now luring children online, group warns
Live Abundantly, a non-profit organisation, has raised concerns about the use of the Internet and digital platforms to lure and coerce innocent individuals, including children, into human trafficking.
To address this emerging trend, the founder of the organisation, Dr Ama Onyerinma, emphasised the need for all strategic stakeholders, including the global media, to collaborate.
Ama made the call shortly before Tuesday’s “Walk Against Human Trafficking” sensitisation programme, which was organised to commemorate the annual United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
While celebrating the yearly event, the NGO and its partners took part in a road walk, which started at the Lagos zonal office of the National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Person.
The walk started at Oba Ladejobi Street, GRA, Lagos through Computer Village, Ikeja Under Bridge and terminated at NAPTIP’s zonal office.
Shortly before the commencement of the road walk, Ama said, “Today is the day of awareness but I think today should be the day where we work on certain actionable goals to prevent it whilst still increasing awareness. But (we must) also find ways to be accountable for our children and accountability means that we have to safeguard our children and make them a priority.
“They (children) get coerced and there is so much misinformation. Much of these are being done online. The traffickers have taken to online and digitalised platforms to learn and coerce children and adults. There is still much work to be done.
“The significance of this rally is the education of the parents. If we can get more parents and caretakers to recognise the children as a priority and that they should not, under any circumstances, expose them to traffickers, then we would have done just a small percentage.”
The Head of the Lagos Field Office for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,
Godwin Bwire, emphasised that human trafficking would persist unless the root causes were directly addressed.
“Human trafficking is a continuous (challenge) in Nigeria because of the vulnerability of its people. We must continue to educate them, support and improve their livelihood. At the end of the day, it mitigates human trafficking. We have to continue to do advocacy,” Bwire said.
In his remarks, the South-West Coordinator of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, Alex Oturu,
said, “Human trafficking is a significant issue in the context of migration. Many Nigerians are being trafficked both domestically and internationally.
“It is important that we raise awareness on a day like this so that people can have an idea of what is happening. A lot of Nigerians find themselves involved in trafficking without even knowing it.”
A 35-year-old man, Gaddafi Isah, and Badamasi Isah, aged 30, have been beaten to death by a mob over the suspected theft of livestock at Katsayal village in the Sandamu Local Government Area of Katsina State.
A counter-insurgency expert focused on the Lake Chad region, Zagazola Makama, made this known in a post on his X handle on Monday.
According to him, intelligence sources revealed that the two victims had driven their father’s vehicle to the outskirts of the village to learn to drive.
He stated that, in the process of the practice, a mob approached and accused them of stealing livestock.
He added that the mob surrounded the two men and beat them severely, causing them to sustain varying degrees of injuries.
“The victims were rescued by the security forces who were deployed to the scene and rushed to the Community Health Centre in Sandamu for treatment, but they were later confirmed dead by a medical doctor,” he posted.
He also disclosed that the vehicle the deceased victims were driving was also damaged during the attack.
He noted that the police had launched an investigation into the incident, and efforts were underway to apprehend the perpetrators responsible for the attack.
When contacted, the spokesperson of the state police command, Abubakar Aliyu, did not respond to calls made to his telephone line.
A text message sent had yet to be replied to as of the time this report was filed.
A tragic incident unfolded on the evening of Saturday, along the Bwari-Dutse Road in Abuja, where a shooting linked to a VIP convoy claimed the life of a bystander and left several others injured.
According to intelligence sources available to Zagazola Makama, the chaos began after a Daf Trailer Truck reportedly lost its brakes and rammed into five tricycles around 6:50 p.m., resulting in a deadly crash. Eight people were injured in the accident, and two later died from their injuries at Kubwa General Hospital.
As emergency responders and commuters grappled with the aftermath of the crash, a VIP convoy approached the gridlocked scene. Eyewitnesses reported that security personnel in the convoy began firing shots into the air, apparently in an attempt to clear the road.
Amid the confusion, a stray bullet hit Timothy John, a passerby from Dutse Baupma, in the chest.
He was rushed to Kubwa General Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
The identity of the VIP or those responsible for the gunfire has not yet been disclosed, sparking public outrage and concern over the reckless actions of convoy security operatives.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into both the accident and the shooting, with the body of Timothy John taken for autopsy.
Operatives of the Mabushi Division of the Federal Capital Territory Police Command have foiled a robbery attempt at the Royal Court Estate, Jahi II, Abuja.
The operatives arrested two suspects following a gun battle.The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday, March 27, at about 3:20 a.m. after a distress call was received.
Upon arrival, the police officers were engaged in a shootout by the robbers but eventually overpowered them with superior firepower.
According to a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, on Sunday, the suspects, Rabiu Jubril and Ibrahim Isa, both residents of Tipper Garage, Jahi—were arrested after a hot pursuit.
Adeh said, “On March 27, 2025 at about 3:20 a.m., operatives of the Mabushi Division responded swiftly to a distress call reporting ongoing robbery at Royal Court Estate, Jahi II.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the police operatives were engaged in a gun duel by the hoodlums. However, the suspects were overpowered by the superior firepower of the police and attempted to flee with gunshot injuries.
“A hot pursuit ensued, leading to the arrest of two suspects—Rabiu Jubril and Ibrahim Isa, both residents of Tipper Garage, Jahi. ”
Adeh added that items recovered from the suspects include two locally made firearms, three suspected stolen vehicles— a black Toyota Matrix (Reg. No. NBS 348 CP), a black Toyota Venza (Reg. No. ABJ 105 AV), and a grey Lexus IS350 (Reg. No. RSH 295 CB).
She stated that electronic devices such as two MacBook Pro laptops, a Lenovo laptop, an iPad, a PS4 gaming console, a Canon IP1224 camera, and a drone camera were also recovered.
“The suspects are currently in custody and will be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations, ” Adeh added.
Adeh said the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao Adewale, urged residents to adopt proactive security measures, especially by installing tracking devices in their vehicles to aid recovery efforts in case of theft.
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