In a recent development, Alimot Haruna, aged 45, has been arrested by the Lagos State Police Command for allegedly smuggling 42 children from the northern region into Lagos without parental consent. The incident, occurring on January 25 around 5:45 pm, suggests Haruna’s intent to exploit the children through forced labor and human trafficking.
Detectives, monitoring her activities, successfully rescued three underage children—two females and one male, though the male’s identity remains unconfirmed. Haruna was already wanted by the Kwara State Police Command for multiple reports of missing underage children linked to her syndicate.
A police source revealed, “The suspect has been declared wanted by the Kwara State Command in connection to many missing children linked to her syndicate.” The Kwara State Police’s anti-human trafficking unit confirmed recovering some of the remaining 11 children.
Admitting her involvement, Haruna provided addresses where the children were kept and disclosed their parents’ names. The current custodians of the other children confirmed this information.
State Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hudeyin, reassured the public of ongoing efforts to rescue the remaining eight children, stating, “Efforts are on to rescue the remaining eight children. Further developments shall be communicated.”
This incident follows last year’s report of the Kano State Police Command arresting nine suspects involved in inter-state trafficking, abduction, and the buying and selling of minors.
The police commissioner underscored the success of intelligence-led operations in identifying and dismantling trafficking syndicates across Kano, Bauchi, Gombe, Lagos, Delta, Anambra, and Imo states.