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Relief and jubilation swept through the IF Academy settlement in Wannune community this morning as several children who went missing since late October were safely reunited with their families following what authorities and residents described as a foiled abduction and child-trafficking attempt.
According to Timothy Chusa, the community member who first brought the case to public attention through Benue Info-pedia, the children were taken by a woman from the Tiv ethnic group who resides in Nasarawa State. Community sources alleged the suspect had planned to sell the children, but the scheme was disrupted when news of the disappearance reached Wannune and triggered an immediate, intense response.
Faced with mounting pressure from enraged residents and swift mobilization across the area, the suspect was forced to return the children unharmed. Witnesses described emotional scenes as parents embraced their sons and daughters, many of whom had been missing for over a month.
The safe return has sparked widespread thanksgiving across the community, with residents gathering for prayers and describing the outcome as nothing short of divine intervention. Churches and neighborhood groups have held impromptu praise sessions, while social media platforms are filled with messages of gratitude and relief.
Local leaders in Tarkaa LGA commended the vigilance displayed by community members, emphasizing that the rapid response prevented what could have been a tragic outcome. They used the occasion to call on parents to remain extra vigilant and proactive in monitoring their children, warning that child trafficking networks continue to target rural communities.
The incident has reignited broader conversations about child protection and security in rural areas of Benue and neighboring states. Traditional rulers, youth groups, and women’s organizations are urging stronger collaboration between families, community vigilantes, local government authorities, and security agencies to curb the rising cases of child abduction and trafficking.
For now, the people of Wannune are celebrating the restoration of peace and the return of their children, a moment marked by tears of joy, renewed communal bonds, and a firm resolve to protect the youngest and most vulnerable among them.
The police have yet to release an official statement, but community leaders say investigations are ongoing and the suspect remains in custody.
