Organized criminal groups have begun pretending to be civil society organizations, humanitarian workers, and representatives of orphanages to exploit vulnerable families and access children.
These groups persuade parents to give up their children, with some victims rescued from trafficking networks operating across multiple states.
In a recent report on its website, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons revealed that it rescued over 180 children allegedly trafficked from five states by criminal groups disguised as civil society organizations.
The agency noted these groups had been deceiving parents in various communities by pretending to be representatives of CSOs before taking the children under false pretenses.
Similarly, the Oyo State Police Command announced the rescue of 17 children from an interstate child-stealing and trafficking syndicate operating across Oyo, Ogun, and Delta states.
How traffickers target vulnerable families
The Civil Society Network on Migration and Development stated that unscrupulous individuals increasingly pretend to be representatives of NGOs, especially faith-based and humanitarian organizations and orphanage centers, to gain access to children from impoverished families.
According to the group, vulnerable families, mainly in rural areas, are often approached with promises of better education and brighter futures for their children.
Angela Okoye, a member of the group’s national working committee, explained that children taken under such arrangements often end up as domestic servants or house helpers, sometimes working without pay.
“Children moved to distant locations away from their families and communities could become vulnerable to maltreatment, abuse, exploitation, and other human rights violations,” she said.
Okoye urged NAPTIP and other security and child-protection agencies to strengthen monitoring of organizations involved in child-related interventions and improve their response systems.
She also called on the public to provide timely and credible intelligence if they suspect child trafficking, child labor, exploitation, or suspicious movement of children under the guise of educational, religious, or humanitarian activities.
Similarly, Bilikis Oladimeji, a member of the National Working Committee of the Federation of Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria, warned that dishonest individuals might exploit public sympathy for trafficking victims to solicit funds.
Oladimeji, founder of the Balimod Women and Child Initiative, said genuine organizations are being suspected by individuals pretending to be NGOs seeking financial aid for victims without actually implementing the projects.
She urged government agencies and donors to verify organizations requesting funds to support trafficking victims.
Oladimeji also called for stricter oversight of orphanages to prevent children in care from being further exploited.
NAPTIP, police focus on suspicious orphanages
In response, NAPTIP spokesperson Vincent Adekoye said the agency increased surveillance to combat child trafficking and shut down some orphanages across the country.
He mentioned that this increased oversight had led to the rescue of children and the closure of orphanages in Delta, Port Harcourt, the FCT, and other locations, based on credible suspicions.
Adekoye stated, “We have increased our surveillance across the country and involved other actors and law enforcement agencies. We have rescued some children and sealed some orphanage centers in Delta, Port Harcourt, the FCT, and other areas.
“I may not be able to tell you the exact number of facilities we have sealed, but we have shut some of them based on reasonable suspicions.
“What we do is act on credible intelligence. We follow the clues and, the moment we discover anything improper, we act on it.
The fact is that we have increased our surveillance more than before. Our operational activities have been heightened also.”
He added that NAPTIP Director-General Binta Adamu had directed all agency commands nationwide to ramp up efforts against orphanages and child trafficking.
“Our team is everywhere, inspecting and ensuring the protection of children, as the Director-General directs,” Adekoye said.
Similarly, Force Public Relations Officer Anietie Iniedu stated that the anti-human trafficking unit of the Force Criminal Investigation Department had been restructured to strengthen the fight.
He said police were paying particular attention to orphanages and facilities suspected of funneling children into trafficking.
“The police are working hard to eliminate this problem. We have reorganized our anti-human trafficking unit at the Force Criminal Investigation Department. We are taking this very seriously,” Iniedu explained.
Babawale Afolabi, spokesperson for the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, said the corps had begun investigations based on recent suspect reports.
He declined to share details, emphasizing the ongoing process. The NSCDC official warned parents and guardians against individuals offering tempting opportunities for their children, citing promises of a better life, free education, and lucrative jobs as red flags.
“The main warning sign is a promise of Eldorado. Parents must be careful of those offering bright futures abroad or elsewhere, asking for their children.
“Many criminals pretend to be NGOs or child rights advocates promising free education or good jobs,” Afolabi said.
He encouraged reporting suspicious activities involving children, especially cases of child labor, abuse, or suspicious orphanages.
Gaps in regulation put children at risk
Child rights activist Temilola Salami emphasized that public vigilance cannot replace effective regulation.
She pointed out that while child-protection laws exist to safeguard children in care, enforcement remains a challenge.
“The Child Rights Act is quite robust on paper. The problem is enforcement. Only a few states have digitized registers.
“Most inspections don’t happen, and traffickers exploit loopholes like private fostering and fake NGOs to bypass court procedures.
“Additionally, there is no nationwide database. NAPTIP and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development do not share a common list of children in institutions,” Salami explained.
Another activist, Wilfred Ilebaye, said unregistered facilities, including alleged baby factories and faith-based homes, continue to pose concerns in some states.
He blamed weak government oversight and insufficient funding, calling for stronger regulation, regular inspections, and better inter-agency coordination.
Furthermore, Muhammed Habeeb, an Abuja-based expert in early childhood education and illegal migration, urged donors to conduct thorough due diligence before funding organizations claiming to help trafficking survivors.
He warned that fraudulent groups could damage trust in genuine NGOs and hinder aid efforts.
Habeeb recommended networking, government support, and careful investigation before releasing funds.
Children who have endured trafficking need more than rescue—they require shelter, education, healthcare, counseling, rehabilitation, and economic support.
“Psychologically, when they are abandoned after rescue, it doesn’t just go away,” Habeeb emphasized.
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