The Nasarawa State Police Command has rescued 17 persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking following the interception of a vehicle in Karu Local Government Area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, January 18, 2026. He said the victims were rescued on Saturday, January 17, during a routine stop-and-search operation by patrol officers attached to the Mararaba ‘A’ Division.
According to the police, the officers intercepted a white Volkswagen Sharon bus with registration number SHD 253 YU at Sharp Corner, Karu, at about 5:50 p.m. The vehicle was driven by a 36-year-old man identified as Nanle John and had 17 passengers on board.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the passengers comprised 11 boys and six girls, aged between 10 and 19 years. Police said the circumstances surrounding their movement raised suspicion of human trafficking.
“Upon interrogation, both the driver and the passengers stated that they were travelling from Shendam in Plateau State to Kayama in Kwara State, where they were allegedly promised farming jobs by a person identified as Umaru, whose surname remains unknown,” the statement said.
SP Nansel added that efforts to reach the parents or guardians of the minors, as well as the alleged recruiter, were unsuccessful, as all contact numbers provided were unreachable.
Following the development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Shetima Jauro Mohammed, ordered that the rescued persons be taken into protective custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Lafia. He also directed a comprehensive investigation to uncover the full circumstances of the case and track down all individuals linked to the suspected trafficking network.
The rescued persons were identified as Nanpar Zwaltur (19), Monday Zinglak (14), Ramnap Selchum (18), Nankat Ayuba (18), Burnan Yilkur (19), Timnan Ponfa (19), Nantip Nanbut (19), Kumlyan Nanbut (17), Zwalkur Zingdap (15), Nanfar Zwalkur (11), Nanpar Nanbut (14), Nanchu Bwoi (13), Godiya Lagang (10), Yulbyen Zingdap (10), Nanna Chirvyok (12), Sholyen Rapkat (10), and Ladi Dinfa (12).
The police commissioner reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and combating human trafficking across the state. He also urged members of the public to report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station.