FRSC intercepts suspected child trafficking attempt in Nyanya, hands over 17 victims to Police

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has intercepted a suspected child trafficking operation in Nyanya, Abuja, rescuing 17 minors and handing them over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.

The interception occurred on Saturday, January 17, 2026, when an afternoon patrol team of the Nyanya Unit Command stopped a white Sharon vehicle with registration number SHD 253 YU along the Building Materials axis of Nyanya.

FRSC officials said the vehicle, driven by a 36-year-old man identified as Nanle John, was travelling from Shendam, Plateau State, to Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State.

According to the Corps, the patrol team became suspicious after noticing an unusually large number of young passengers inside the vehicle. Further checks revealed 17 children, both boys and girls, crammed into the vehicle, with two minors concealed in the boot, raising strong suspicion of human trafficking.

The vehicle was immediately impounded and the Unit Commander notified. Preliminary questioning of the driver reportedly produced unsatisfactory explanations, prompting the FRSC to escalate the matter to the appropriate security authorities.

In line with inter-agency protocols, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mararaba Division, was contacted, and the driver, vehicle and the rescued children were formally handed over to the police for investigation.

Following the handover, the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, CP Shetima Jauro Mohamed, directed that the children be taken into protective custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lafia, while ordering a comprehensive investigation to identify and dismantle any trafficking network linked to the incident.

Reacting to the development, the Corps Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed, said the interception underscored the Corps’ broader responsibility beyond traffic management.

“This clearly demonstrates that the FRSC is not only about traffic control but about saving lives in every sense of the word,” he said, noting that officers are trained to remain vigilant, humane and responsive to suspicious movements on Nigerian highways.

While acknowledging that the FRSC does not have statutory powers to investigate human trafficking, the Corps Marshal stressed that its duty to protect lives and promptly alert relevant security agencies was professionally discharged.

The FRSC commended the swift response of the Nigeria Police Force and reassured the public of its commitment to vigilance, professionalism and inter-agency collaboration in safeguarding lives across the nation’s roads.