Police Dismantle Child Trafficking Syndicate Led By Pastor, Rescue 13 Children In Plateau

A child trafficking syndicate led by Pastor Dayo Bernard has been dismantled by the Nigeria Police Force in Jos, Plateau State.

During the operation, the authorities also rescued 13 children.

The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who disclosed this in a statement on Monday, January 6, 2024, said the pastor confessed to have sold the 13 children at varying prices.

Pastor Bernard further confessed to traveling to Kwande District, Quan Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State, under the guise of evangelism, where he deceived parents by claiming to run an NGO/Orphanage offering sponsorship from nursery to higher education, convincing them to release their children to him.

"Police operatives apprehended a child-trafficking syndicate led by one Pastor Dayo Bernard ‘m’ of End Time Army Ministry, Bukuru, Plateau State on the 2nd of December 2024,” the statement read.

"The operation led to the rescue of five children between the ages of 2-4, abducted from various homes in Jos, Plateau State, and the arrest of other members of the syndicate identified as Rita Agboeze 'f', Victoria Ugwu 'f', Nanman Puntel 'f', and Peter Ukwuani 'm'.

“Upon interrogation, the principal suspect confessed to having abducted and sold 13 children at varying prices, all of whom have been recovered by the police and reunited with their families through the Plateau State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development."