A woman arrested over an alleged child trafficking operation in Abuja has reportedly admitted receiving ₦250,000 for every child she brought, claiming she was told the payment was compensation.
The suspect made the revelation while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, as investigations into the alleged trafficking network continued.
During the interview, the woman claimed she was persuaded to return to the operation after an earlier arrest because she believed the arrangement was intended to help vulnerable children by providing them with shelter and education.
According to her account, she was told that the children were those found wandering the streets without anyone to care for them.
When questioned about the amount she received for each child, the suspect stated that she was paid ₦250,000. She also explained that an earlier-mentioned sum of ₦1.5 million was meant to be shared among several individuals allegedly connected to the operation.
However, she was unable to clearly explain the reason for the payment when pressed by the interviewer.
The suspect further disclosed that she had previously been arrested after taking a child in what she described as her first assignment. She claimed the case went to court several times, but the complainant failed to appear.
According to her account, she was eventually allowed to go home after the child was recovered.
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The disclosure comes amid an ongoing investigation by the Federal Capital Territory Police Command into suspected child abduction and trafficking in Abuja.
Police reportedly paraded suspects linked to the investigation on Tuesday following further arrests and the recovery of a five-year-old girl whose biological family has yet to be identified.
The police have appealed to members of the public to assist in locating the child’s relatives, stressing the need to verify any claims of parentage.
Some of the suspects allegedly claimed they were recruited by a woman identified as Madam Nkechi, who reportedly promised payments for bringing children described to them as orphans or children found roaming the streets.
Some suspects also alleged that they encountered the purported recruiter at a church in Lugbe, Abuja. However, the claims linking the recruitment activities to the church have not been independently verified, and no evidence has established that the church as an institution was involved.
Authorities are continuing their investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged operation and identify all those who may be involved.
The suspects’ allegations remain subject to investigation, and the relevant authorities are expected to determine the facts of the case.
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