The Nigeria Police Force has apprehended and paraded a five-member child trafficking syndicate while 13 children between the ages of 2 and 10, were rescued from the gang.

The suspects were paraded on Monday in Abuja by the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The suspects include:Pastor Dayo Bernard, Rita Agboeze, Victoria Ugwu, Nanman Puntel and Peter Ukwuani

According to the Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, On December 2, 2024, operatives of the Force Intelligence Department - Intelligence Response Team (FID-IRT) conducted an intelligence-led operation that uncovered a child trafficking syndicate operating in Plateau State and its environs.

This operation resulted in the rescue of five children, aged 2-4, who had been abducted from Jos, Plateau State, and the arrest of Nanman Puntel.

Upon interrogation, Puntel revealed that Pastor Dayo Bernard, of End Time Army Ministry, Bukuru, Jos, was responsible for keeping the children in her custody.

Pastor Bernard, when apprehended, confessed to traveling to Kwande District, Quan Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, under the guise of evangelism. There, he deceived parents by claiming to run an NGO/Orphanage offering sponsorship from nursery to higher education, convincing them to release their children to him.

In total, 13 children were rescued by the IRT operatives and reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.