The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested a 22-year-old woman, Aisha Hashiru, for allegedly trying to traffic three children belonging to the same parents in Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area.
Police spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, said in a statement on Friday that the arrest followed a distress call received around 5:45 p.m. on Thursday.
According to him, Hashiru was caught by residents at Orange Market while attempting to abduct the minors. “She was about to be lynched when the Divisional Police Officer of Mararaba ‘A’ Division mobilized his patrol team to the scene, rescued both the suspect and the children, and moved them to the station for safety,” he said.
Investigations showed that the suspect sneaked into the home of one Ramatu Auwal at Orange Market at about 5:00 p.m. and took away her three children, aged four, five, and six.
A neighbour noticed her trying to escape and raised alarm. On interrogation, the suspect reportedly admitted to luring the children by promising to buy them biscuits.
The Commissioner of Police has ordered that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department in Lafia for further probe. He also directed that more efforts be made to tackle cases of missing children and strengthen the fight against human trafficking in the state.
The police praised the vigilance of residents and assured the public that protecting lives, especially those of children, remains a top priority.
