According to Mohammed, the suspect was apprehended on the night of January 24, 2026, around 10:00 p.m. in the Lalan district of Gusau. Jerry Peter was found transporting five children, aged between eight and thirteen years, suspected to be victims of trafficking.
Initial inquiries indicated that the children were being moved from Zuru towards multiple destinations, including Kaduna, Benue State, and Benin City in Edo State.
Further investigation uncovered that the trafficker intended to deliver the minors to a woman known locally as “Mommy Bishop,” facilitated through Reverend James Joshua of the Assembly of God Church in Benin City.
Following orders from the State Commandant, Commandant Sani Mustafa, both the suspect and the rescued children were transferred to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) to continue with detailed investigations and appropriate legal proceedings.
Child trafficking remains a critical issue in Nigeria, with recent reports from NAPTIP indicating a 15% increase in trafficking cases in the northern regions over the past year. This arrest underscores the importance of coordinated efforts between security agencies and community leaders to combat this menace.
