Governor Muhammadu Yahaya of Gombe State has expressed serious concerns regarding a growing trend of child trafficking and insecurity within the state, announcing that 48 children between the ages of two and five have reportedly been trafficked to unspecified locations. He stated that the children, whose parents remain in Gombe, have gone missing without a trace, raising alarms over their safety and future. The governor highlighted the gravity of this situation during a distribution of Ramadan palliatives, emphasizing the urgent need for community awareness and protective measures against such crimes.

In his remarks, Yahaya also pointed to a correlation between the recent spike in security incidents and the relaxation of a motorcycle ban that had been imposed in certain areas of the state. He cited a specific incident involving the abduction of a boy at Orji Estate following this easing of restrictions, which he described as a worrying trend that could jeopardize the safety of the state's residents. The governor's comments suggest a lingering concern about how changes in policy can impact public safety, particularly in the context of child trafficking and other criminal activities.

As the Gombe State government confronts these challenges, the governor's alarm serves to galvanize support from the community and law enforcement to address this pressing issue. With the implications of these trafficking cases potentially reaching international borders, the call for vigilance and action is critical to both preventing further abductions and ensuring the recovery of these vulnerable children.