The Nasarawa State Police Command has rescued 17 suspected victims of human trafficking and launched an investigation into a suspected inter-state trafficking network.
The rescued persons, made up of 11 boys and six girls between the ages of 10 and 19, were intercepted during an intelligence-led stop-and-search operation by police patrol teams.
The development was disclosed by the Police Public Relations Officer of the Command, SP Ramhan Nansel, in a statement issued on behalf of the Commissioner of Police, Shetima Mohammed.
According to the statement, the incident occurred on January 17, 2026, at about 5:50 p.m. at Sharp Corner, Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, when operatives attached to Mararaba ‘A’ Division intercepted a white Volkswagen Sharon vehicle with registration number SHD 253 YU during a routine patrol.
Police said the vehicle was driven by one Nanle John, 36, who, alongside the passengers, claimed they were travelling from Shendam in Plateau State to Kayama in Kwara State to meet a man identified as Umaru, who allegedly promised them farming jobs.
Efforts by the police to reach the said Umaru and the parents or guardians of the victims were unsuccessful, as all the phone numbers provided were unreachable.
Following the development, the Commissioner of Police ordered that the rescued youths be taken into protective custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lafia, and directed a thorough investigation to identify and arrest all those connected to the suspected human trafficking operation.
The police leadership reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and eradicating human trafficking in Nasarawa State, while urging members of the public to report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station.
