The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has raised the alarm over allegations that some parents and guardians are facilitating the sexual exploitation of children for money, warning that anyone found culpable will face prosecution.

The warning followed the arrest of a middle-aged woman in Abuja over allegations that she offered her teenage daughter to men for sexual gratification in exchange for money.

NAPTIP’s Director-General, Binta Adamu Bello, expressed concern over the reported cases, describing the alleged involvement of parents in the sexual exploitation of their children as a grave betrayal of their responsibility to protect them.

Bello issued the warning in Abuja on Friday, October 16, 2026, amid concerns about child sexual abuse, trafficking and exploitation in Nigeria.

The agency has not publicly disclosed the identities of the suspect or the alleged victim. Details of the alleged transactions, the number of people involved and the status of the investigation have also not been fully disclosed.

The Director-General said reports received at NAPTIP’s headquarters and commands across the country suggested that cases of parents allegedly facilitating the sexual abuse of their children for financial benefits could be increasing. However, the agency has not released figures establishing the scale of the reported cases.

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She warned that the sexual exploitation of children could cause lasting physical and psychological harm, undermine their well-being and expose them to serious health risks.

Bello stressed that parents and guardians should be protectors of children rather than facilitators of abuse, adding that no financial reward could justify the exploitation of a minor.

She said NAPTIP had strengthened its monitoring and enforcement mechanisms and was working with other law enforcement agencies and relevant partners to investigate reports of child abuse and prosecute suspects where sufficient evidence exists.

The agency has also directed its commands nationwide to intensify surveillance, improve rapid-response mechanisms and ensure that reports involving child abuse and sexual exploitation receive appropriate attention.

Bello maintained that anyone found to have facilitated the sexual exploitation of a child would be held accountable in accordance with the law.

The NAPTIP chief also urged parents to exercise greater vigilance over people who have access to their children, particularly when they are away from home.

She advised families to conduct proper background checks on domestic workers, drivers, gardeners, gatekeepers, school-run operators and other service providers who may interact with children as part of their daily duties.

According to the agency, safeguarding children requires parents and guardians to take reports of suspicious behaviour seriously and establish appropriate measures to prevent abuse.

The warning comes amid wider concerns over human trafficking and child exploitation in Nigeria.

On September 1, 2026, reports indicated that NAPTIP had rescued more than 180 trafficked children across five states following investigations into suspected trafficking networks.

Some suspects allegedly posed as representatives of civil society organisations and approached families in vulnerable communities with promises of educational assistance and back-to-school support before taking their children away.

One reported case involved three children allegedly taken from a parent in Kajuru, Kaduna State, and later recovered from a private building in Onitsha, Anambra State.

Other children were reportedly recovered during investigations into suspected trafficking activities involving locations in Benue and Nasarawa states, Abuja and other areas.

The agency also reported cases in which children were allegedly moved between locations and placed in orphanages under circumstances investigators suspected involved trafficking and unlawful transactions.

These cases are separate from the Abuja sexual-exploitation allegations but highlight the different methods through which children can be exposed to abuse, trafficking and financial exploitation.

NAPTIP has urged members of the public to report suspected cases of child abuse and trafficking and cooperate with investigations aimed at protecting vulnerable children.

The agency reiterated its commitment to investigating allegations, rescuing victims and prosecuting suspected offenders where the evidence supports criminal charges.

The allegations against the woman arrested in Abuja have not been established in court. The outcome of the investigation will determine whether charges can be sustained against her or any other person suspected of involvement.

NAPTIP warned that parents and guardians who facilitate the sexual exploitation of children could face legal consequences if found guilty, stressing that protecting children must remain a shared responsibility of families, communities and relevant authorities.

Nigerian troops have killed several Lakurawa fighters, destroyed their camps and recovered weapons and five motorcycles during a clearance operation in Waria Forest, Tangaza Local Government Area of Sokoto State, the military has said.

The operation was conducted on Thursday, October 15, 2026, by troops of Sector 2 under the Joint Task Force North-West, Operation Fansan Yamma, as part of ongoing efforts to dismantle armed groups’ hideouts and restrict their movements across the region.

According to Lieutenant Colonel Aliyu Danja, the task force’s Media Information Officer, the troops advanced through identified terrorist enclaves around Alela, Bilange and Kandam villages before moving towards Waria Forest, where they encountered the armed group.

A firefight broke out between the soldiers and the fighters. The military said the troops overwhelmed the armed group with superior firepower, forcing its members to abandon their positions and flee deeper into the forest.

The soldiers pursued the fleeing fighters, killing several of them, according to the military account. A subsequent search of the area led to the destruction of the camps and associated support structures used by the group.

The operation also resulted in the recovery of weapons and five motorcycles believed to have been used by the fighters. The military did not disclose the exact number of people killed or provide details of any casualties among its personnel.

The Theatre Command said troops had maintained a strong operational presence in the area and would continue clearance operations to deny armed groups safe havens and freedom of movement.

It added that the mission was part of broader efforts to dismantle Lakurawa strongholds, disrupt their support networks and improve security in communities across Sokoto and neighbouring areas of the North-West.

The command commended the troops for their efforts and urged residents to provide timely and credible information about suspicious movements and activities to security agencies.

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The latest operation comes amid continuing military efforts to contain the activities of Lakurawa, an armed group that has operated in parts of Sokoto and Kebbi states and is associated in security reporting with militant networks in the Sahel.

The group attracted increased attention in late 2024 as Nigerian authorities raised concerns about its presence in the North-West. Security analysts have continued to examine its origins, affiliations and links to wider extremist networks operating across the Sahel region.

Lakurawa has remained a security concern despite repeated military operations targeting its camps and fighters. The persistence of armed groups in remote forest areas and near Nigeria’s international borders has complicated efforts to prevent them from regrouping after military offensives.

Earlier this week, troops reportedly killed a suspected Lakurawa militant in Soruro village, also in Tangaza Local Government Area, after receiving information about the presence of armed men. An AK-47 rifle, a magazine and ammunition were recovered during that operation, according to reports quoting the Sokoto State Police Command.

The latest clearance operation underscores the continuing security challenges facing communities in Sokoto State, where residents remain vulnerable to attacks, killings and other forms of violence by armed groups.

While the military says the destruction of the camps will help restrict the fighters’ movements, the longer-term impact will depend on sustained security operations, reliable intelligence and cooperation between security agencies and local communities.

The military has urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity as operations continue across the region.