When Zainab Abdullahi Giginyu saw the photograph of a recently rescued girl in Port Harcourt, her breath caught in her throat. The child’s features — the eyes, the smile, the expression — looked hauntingly familiar.
“She has my daughter’s eyes,” Zainab said, her voice trembling. “The same smile. I truly believe she could be my child.”
Years ago, Zainab’s daughter was abducted in Kano State under mysterious circumstances. Since then, like dozens of other families in the state, she has been living with heartbreak and unanswered questions. Now, after the recent rescue of a group of trafficked children in Nigeria’s southern region, her long-dormant hope has resurfaced — along with renewed agony.
“I need the government’s help,” she pleaded. “Help me find out if this is my daughter… and bring her home.”
A Growing Crisis: Missing Children from Kano
Zainab is not alone. Across Kano State, a growing number of parents remain tormented by the disappearances of their children, some taken from schools, markets, and even homes. These cases, many left unresolved, have left communities gripped by fear and suspicion.
But recent developments have shed new light on the tragedy. Authorities, working in conjunction with civil society groups, have uncovered a trafficking network operating across state lines, with rescued children found in places like Port Harcourt (Rivers State), Awka (Anambra State), Asaba (Delta State), and even parts of Kaduna State.
Many of these children are believed to have been kidnapped from the North and transported to the South, where they were given new identities — including different names, religions, and family backgrounds.
A Coalition for Justice and Reunion
In the face of this crisis, a determined coalition of parents and activists has taken action. The Coalition of Parents for the Abducted Children in Kano State (COPACK), led by Comrade Isma’il Ibrahim Muhammad, is working tirelessly to locate the missing children and reunite them with their biological families.
Speaking to DAILY POST, Comrade Isma’il revealed that photographs of the rescued children have been obtained and are being shared among affected families.
“We’re urging parents whose children were abducted to come forward and examine the images,” he said. “There’s a real possibility that their child may be among those who’ve been found.”
He disclosed that one of the key locations where kidnapped children were discovered was a compound in Ozouba, Port Harcourt. Authorities have now handed over photographs of the children to the police for proper identification and further action.
“It’s heartbreaking,” he added. “Many of these children were taken when they were very young. Their names have been changed, their faith altered. They don’t even know where they truly come from.”
Identity Erased, Lives Rewritten
The cruelty of the trafficking networks lies not just in the abduction but in the erasure of a child’s identity. A chilling example came from a police briefing in Kaduna, where the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Mansur Hassan, introduced several rescued children and revealed disturbing details.
“This boy was known as Isa,” he said, pointing at a child in the footage. “But his name has been changed to Michael.”
He gestured to another in a green shirt. “His real name was Safiyanu, now he’s called Joshua.”
Hassan emphasized that in some cases, children were sold for ritual purposes, while others were simply absorbed into new families, often through illegal adoption channels. He also pointed out that lack of vigilance by parents contributes to the ease with which traffickers operate.
“Some of these abductions could have been prevented,” he noted. “Families must be more cautious. Our communities need to be alert.”
A Bureaucratic Struggle to Bring Them Home
While some children have been successfully rescued, the road to reunification has proven slow and difficult. Comrade Isma’il described a frustrating web of bureaucracy that delays the process.
“There’s a lot of red tape,” he said, visibly emotional. “These children are sitting in shelters or police custody, but they can’t be released until certain procedures are followed. It’s dragging on, and the parents are suffering.”
Despite these obstacles, COPACK and its partners continue to push for government intervention, improved coordination between states, and faster action on cases where identities are confirmed.
Hope Against the Odds
For mothers like Zainab, hope is the only thing stronger than despair.
“I believe she’s mine,” she said again, staring at the photograph. “And even if she doesn’t remember me yet, I’ll wait. I’ll wait as long as it takes to bring her home.”
COPACK has praised the support offered so far by the Kano State Government, but insists more must be done.
“We’re grateful for the assistance we’ve received,” said Comrade Isma’il. “But this crisis is far from over. Every child still out there deserves to return to their real families. No parent should live in limbo forever.”
