FCT Police Foil Child Sale Plot, Arrest Pastor and Accomplices in Trafficking Syndicate

 

Authorities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have made a major breakthrough in the fight against child trafficking following the arrest of a pastor and three individuals allegedly involved in a child-selling operation. The suspects were apprehended by operatives of the FCT Police Command in what is now unfolding as a deeply disturbing case of organized child exploitation.

The incident came to light in the early hours of Friday, May 24, when officials at Wazobia Motor Park in Gwagwalada raised an alarm about a man displaying suspicious behavior. According to a statement from the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Josephine Adeh, the man was attempting to board a vehicle to Owerri, Imo State, while accompanied by a young boy whose behavior and situation aroused concern.

Responding to the distress call around 2:00 a.m., the Gwagwalada Area Command quickly deployed a Police Emergency Response Team to the scene. The suspect, identified as Israel Ajah, was intercepted and detained while attempting to flee with a seven-year-old boy in his custody. Preliminary questioning on the scene led to an even more unsettling revelation: the child had not been kidnapped in the conventional sense but had been handed over to Israel by his own elder brother.

Further investigations led the police to one Reverend Pastor Prince Bassey Ajah, the General Overseer of the “Wells of Salvation” Church located in Byazhin Across. The man of the cloth, who holds the dual titles of pastor and elder brother to the suspect, is alleged to be a central figure in the trafficking plot. His arrest was swiftly executed, leading to the exposure of a broader criminal network involving two additional accomplices—Nancy Atoo and Deaconess Vera Duru.

Detectives expanded their search and conducted a raid at the home of Nancy Atoo. During the operation, they discovered a second child, a four-year-old girl referred to as “Mercy.” Investigators say the name was assigned by the suspect, and no documents or reliable identifying information was found on the girl. Her origins remain unknown as of press time. Authorities have taken the girl into protective custody while efforts intensify to trace her biological family.

The seven-year-old boy, later identified as Muktar Hassan, was safely returned to his family following verification of his identity. His rescue, however, unveiled the true intent behind the suspects’ activities: the children were being trafficked across state lines, specifically to Owerri, where they were reportedly to be sold. Confessions obtained during the course of interrogation revealed that arrangements had already been finalized to sell Muktar for N1.2 million, with Deaconess Vera Duru allegedly acting as the transaction’s facilitator.

While the investigation continues to unravel the depth of the operation, FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Ajao S. Adewale, has lauded the swift intervention and vigilance of the Wazobia Motor Park officials, whose alertness likely prevented a tragic outcome. He described the arrests as a significant achievement in the command’s ongoing efforts to dismantle trafficking syndicates and protect vulnerable minors from exploitation.

CP Adewale also used the opportunity to issue a stern reminder to parents and guardians about the dangers of leaving young children unsupervised or sending them on errands alone. He stressed that vigilance at the community level is one of the most effective tools against child exploitation and abduction.

Residents of the FCT are encouraged to continue playing an active role in community policing by reporting any suspicious activities to authorities. The police command has made available emergency hotlines for such reports: 08032003913, 08061581938, and 07057337653.

This shocking case of betrayal—where a trusted religious leader and family member allegedly orchestrated the sale of innocent children—has stirred emotions across the capital. Community members and child welfare advocates have expressed outrage and are calling for swift justice to deter further occurrences.

As investigations proceed, the FCT Police Command assures the public that justice will be pursued with full rigor, and that the safety and well-being of children remain a top priority. The unraveling of this syndicate may just be the tip of the iceberg, prompting a renewed focus on child protection and the silent networks preying on society’s most vulnerable.