The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued eight children suspected to have been stolen from Kano and trafficked to Southern Nigeria.

The operation, conducted in Asaba, Delta State, was carried out with support from the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police, and civil society groups. Authorities discovered more than 70 children at a privately run orphanage, but only eight were identified as missing from Kano.

NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, voiced deep concern over the role of some orphanages in child trafficking.

“The operation was purely intelligence-driven and followed persistent cries from parents in Kano,” Bello said. “We are seriously worried about these so-called orphanages that have turned into havens for stolen children. Imagine over 70 children in one orphanage—the big question is, where are they from?”

She confirmed that the rescued children have been reunited with their families and assured Nigerians that the agency remains determined to dismantle child trafficking networks.

Bello urged state Ministries of Women Affairs to “beam searchlights on the activities of orphanages and care homes” nationwide, stressing that strict oversight is necessary to prevent further exploitation of vulnerable children.

NAPTIP reiterated its commitment to protecting children and ensuring that those involved in trafficking syndicates face justice.