Osun State Faces Surge in Child Trafficking, Says NSCDC

The Osun State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has raised serious concerns about the increasing incidence of child trafficking and kidnapping in the state.

The Command has appealed to parents and guardians to exercise heightened vigilance over their children, particularly as schools are on holiday, leaving children more vulnerable to dangers in public spaces without adequate supervision.

Commandant Michael Adaralewa expressed alarm over the growing number of reported cases of child abduction in Osun State.

In a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, Adeleke Kehinde, Adaralewa revealed that the NSCDC is currently investigating three cases of child kidnapping that were reported in August. He also confirmed that some suspects have been apprehended in connection with these incidents, and investigations are ongoing.

The statement highlighted a particularly distressing case reported on 2nd August 2024.

According to the report, a male child, aged one year and three months, was abducted from Osunjela, near Ilesa Garage, Osun State. The investigation uncovered that a woman known as Tawa, who had been introduced to the child’s mother by a family friend named Sodiq, was the prime suspect.

Tawa had ostensibly approached the mother under the guise of wanting to learn the craft of bag-making from her. On her first day at work, Tawa played with the child and eventually left the house with the baby’s ten-year-old sister, who had been sent on an errand along with her younger brother.

During the errand, Tawa instructed the elder sister to return home to deliver potatoes to their mother, taking advantage of this moment to disappear with the younger child.

On the same day, another alarming report was received regarding the disappearance of a three-year-old boy from Ifesowapo Street, Owode, Osogbo.

The child was last seen playing in a local shop, and despite extensive searches, his whereabouts remain unknown.

Another heart-wrenching case occurred on 27th August 2024, involving a five-month-old baby girl from Agbeye town in Odo-Otin Local Government Area.

The child, whose parents are deaf and mute, was abducted from a farm where her mother was gathering firewood.

The mother had placed the baby under the shade of trees to keep her cool while she quickly gathered firewood. However, when she returned to breastfeed her child, she discovered that the baby was missing.

These incidents paint a grim picture of the child trafficking landscape in Osun State, highlighting a disturbing trend that necessitates urgent action from law enforcement and the community alike.

The NSCDC, under the leadership of Commandant Adaralewa, has assured the public that it is working tirelessly, in collaboration with other security agencies in the state, to track down the perpetrators of these heinous crimes and bring them to justice.

The Commandant emphasised that the safety and security of children are paramount, and all efforts are being made to ensure that these vulnerable young lives are protected.

In light of these alarming events, Commandant Adaralewa has issued a call to action for parents, guardians, and community members. He urged parents to maintain close supervision of their children, especially during the school holidays when children are more likely to be out and about.

He also advised artisans, business owners, and employers to conduct thorough background checks on individuals they intend to hire, emphasising the importance of proper profiling to prevent potential abductions.

“Children are special gifts from God and represent the future of our nation,” Adaralewa stressed.

“It is our collective responsibility as a society to safeguard their wellbeing and ensure that they are raised in a safe and secure environment.”

The NSCDC’s appeal comes at a crucial time when child trafficking is on the rise, not only in Osun State but across Nigeria.

The Command’s proactive stance serves as a reminder to all stakeholders—the government, law enforcement, communities, and families—to remain vigilant and work together to combat the scourge of child trafficking.

It is hoped that with increased awareness and community involvement, the tide of these disturbing incidents can be turned, ensuring a safer future for Nigeria’s children.

As the investigations continue, the Osun State Command of the NSCDC is committed to providing updates and working diligently to bring an end to these distressing occurrences, reinforcing the importance of community vigilance and the need for all hands to be on deck in the fight against child trafficking.