On Saturday, January 8, the two vehicles were stopped in Ameladu, Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State.
Two commercial buses purportedly transporting 32 minors to Ede in Osun state were intercepted by men from the Benue State Police Command's anti-crime team, code-named Operation Zenda.
On Saturday, January 8, the two vehicles were stopped in Ameladu, Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State.
Mrs. Linda Akaasema, the children's conveyor who claimed to operate an orphanage in Osun state, stated the youngsters were predominantly teenagers, with 13 boys and 19 girls.
The youngsters who were inmates of the Akaasema Child Care Foundation, which was registered in Benue but operated in Osun, only came home for the Yuletide festivities, according to Mrs Akaasema.
The children come from the Ukum local government towns of Zakibiam, Jootar, and other villages that share borders with Taraba state, according to Mrs Akaasema.
She was unable to give any documentation to support her claims of operating an orphanage or to show that the children were genuinely in school and only came home on weekends.
She was also unable to give any identification documents, alleging that she had forgotten all of them when she left Osun state.
SP Catherine Anene, the command's spokeswoman, acknowledged the development and said an inquiry was underway.