The Niger State Police Command has arrested two women over alleged child trafficking and ritual-related activities and rescued four children during an operation in Suleja.
The command's spokesperson, SP Wasiu Abiodun, disclosed this in a statement on Friday, June 26, 2026.
According to the statement, operatives of the State Intelligence Department acted on credible intelligence and raided a residence behind the old NEPA area in Suleja on June 3, 2026. During the operation, police arrested 68-year-old Promise Chukwudi and rescued four children aged between four and seven years.
Police also arrested Chukwudi's alleged accomplice, 62-year-old Suzanna Onojekwo, after one of the rescued children was found at her residence on Church Road, Suleja.
The suspects reportedly told investigators that the children, whom they claimed were from Karim-Lamido in Gassol Local Government Area of Taraba State, had been released to them by their parents between November 2025 and February 2026 for adoption.
However, police said the claim was contradicted during the investigation, as several parents from the Federal Capital Territory, Nasarawa and Benue states came forward to identify the children as theirs.
Chukwudi also told investigators that she previously operated an orphanage, Precious Promise Nursery, Primary and Orphanage Home, in 2022 before resuming its activities in November 2025. She further claimed to be a licensed herbal medical practitioner.
A search of her residence led to the recovery of a shrine, animal skulls, bird feathers, pieces of multi-coloured clothing and other items police described as fetish objects.
The police said the suspects were transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department at the command headquarters in Minna for further investigation, while the rescued children were handed over to the appropriate child protection agency for care as efforts continued to identify and reunite them with their families.
According to the police, the suspects have been charged to court for prosecution.
