Pastor and Accomplices Arrested for Child Trafficking as FCT Police Intensify Efforts
In a significant breakthrough, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command’s Rapid Response Squad 74 apprehended a pastor, Simon Kado, along with his relative Jesse Simon-Kado and their driver, Muhammad Isah, for their involvement in child trafficking.
The trio was intercepted on Friday while transporting 12 underage children, comprising eight girls and four boys aged between five to 16 years, from Nasarawa State to Ogun State.
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FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed the incident in a statement on Saturday. The operation took place at approximately 12:55 am when the RRS 74 intercepted Muhammad Isah, a resident of Kafanchan, Kaduna State, driving a Toyota Hiace bus (Reg No APP 489 XE). The vehicle was found to be carrying the underage children destined for Ogun State.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the children, hailing from Akwanga LGA, Nasarawa State, were victims of child trafficking orchestrated by Pastor Simon Kado and Jesse Simon-Kado. Both are currently in police custody, awaiting further legal proceedings.
While the investigation continues, collaboration with the Nasarawa State Police Command is underway to facilitate the reunion of the victims with their respective families. Commissioner of Police FCT, Benneth Igweh, emphasized that the safety of residents remains the top priority.
This arrest comes amidst a concerning rise in kidnapping and bandit attacks in the FCT. In January 2024, the Special Intervention Squad of the FCT Police Command neutralized three notorious bandits in a forest within the Bwari area of Abuja.
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Additionally, the air component of Operation Whirl Punch in Kaduna State took down Janari, a prominent kidnap kingpin responsible for several abductions in both Kaduna State and Abuja, along with some of his associates.
The FCT Police appear resolute in their commitment to tackling criminal activities, sending a clear message that perpetrators will be brought to justice.