The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps has liberated 15 minors who were allegedly trafficked and sold for N2 million each by a presumed member of a human trafficking syndicate in Nasarawa State.

The NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Babawale Afolabi, disclosed this at a news briefing at the Corps’ headquarters in Abuja on Friday.

Afolabi said the suspect allegedly posed as an official of the National Council of Child Rights Advocate and deceived parents into releasing their children under the guise of operating an NGO and orphanage programme called the Back to School Project.

“The suspect lured willing, less privileged parents into releasing their children with promises of free education,” Afolabi said.

He said the rescue was carried out by the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad, led by Commander Dandaura Appollos.

According to him, the 15 children were from Kama Madaki and Gudindi Mada communities in Kokona Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. One other child is still being tracked.

“Through advanced field tracking, technical intelligence and multi-state tactical sweeps, operatives of the CG’s SIS tracked down the buyers who were from different locations in the country,” Afolabi stated.

He said three of the victims were rescued in Anambra, Imo and Enugu states, while 12 others were recovered in a coordinated operation across eastern transit routes.

Afolabi added that three suspected buyers, comprising one man and two women, have been arrested in connection with the case.

He said the NSCDC maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards crime and human trafficking, and that suspects found culpable would be prosecuted after investigation is completed.