By Moses Okorie
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has once again demonstrated its operational prowess and commitment to national safety, child protection, and inter agency collaboration with the successful interception of a suspected child trafficking operation in Nyanya, Abuja.
According to a release signed by Assistant Corps Marshal Olusegun Ogungbemide, Corps Public Education Officer of FRSC in Abuja on Tuesday, on Saturday, 17th January 2026, the afternoon patrol team of Nyanya Unit Command intercepted a white Sharon vehicle with registration number SHD 253 YU at the Building Materials axis of Nyanya. The vehicle, driven by Mr. Nanle John (male, 36 years), was traveling from Shendam, Plateau State, to Kaiama LGA, Kwara State.
He said the interception followed the alertness and professional judgment of the patrol team, who observed an unusually high number of passengers, seventeen (17) young boys and girls crammed into the vehicle, with two minors concealed in the vehicle’s boot, immediately raising suspicion of possible human trafficking.
The vehicle was promptly impounded, and the Unit Commander was briefed. Preliminary questioning of the driver yielded unsatisfactory explanations, necessitating escalation to the appropriate security authority. In line with established protocols and inter-agency cooperation, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mararaba Division, was immediately contacted, and the driver, vehicle, and all the children were formally handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation.
Subsequently, the Commissioner of Police, Nasarawa State Command, CP Shetima Jauro Mohamed, ordered that the rescued young persons be taken into protective custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lafia, while directing a comprehensive investigation to dismantle any network connected to the suspected trafficking attempt.
Reacting to the development, the Corps Marshal Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed stated that this interception clearly demonstrates that the Federal Road Safety Corps is not only about traffic control but about saving lives in every sense of the word. Officers of the Corps are trained to be vigilant, humane, and responsive to suspicious movements on the highways.
Additionally, the Corps Marshal reiterates that although the Corps lacks the statutory mandate to investigate human trafficking, its responsibility to protect lives on Nigerian roads, identify suspicious activities, and immediately engage relevant security agencies was effectively and professionally discharged.
The Corps commends the swift response of the Nigeria Police Force and reassures the public of its continued commitment to vigilance, professionalism, and inter-agency cooperation in safeguarding lives across the nation’s highways.