The Governor of Gombe State, Inuwa Yahaya, on Friday disclosed that no fewer than 48 children, aged between two and five years, have been abducted from different parts of the state and allegedly taken to unknown destinations.
Yahaya raised the alarm during the inauguration of the state’s Ramadan palliative distribution exercise in Gombe, describing the development as disturbing and a grave threat to public safety.
According to him, official records indicate that the affected children were stolen and transported outside the state, while their parents remain in Gombe.
“From the available records, 48 Gombe State children between the ages of two and five have been stolen from the state to other parts of the world,” the governor said.
“Their parents are here within the state; for the children, we don’t know if they would be found or not.”
The governor did not specify the period within which the incidents occurred but stressed the need for collective vigilance and cooperation to address the emerging security concerns.
He recalled a recent incident at Orji Estate, where a boy was abducted shortly after the relaxation of the motorcycle ban in the state but was later rescued.
Yahaya defended some of the tough security measures introduced by his administration, noting that they were aimed at protecting lives and property, despite criticism from certain quarters.
“Security is a collective responsibility. We must evaluate what is happening and do what is necessary, no matter how tough,” he added.
The governor also cited the ban on metal scrap dealings as part of efforts to curb rising crime, including vandalism and theft. He revealed that some affected dealers had approached religious leaders to lobby against the restriction, claiming it was their only source of livelihood.
He lamented increasing cases of infrastructure vandalism, including the tampering with electrical installations meant to distribute power from the Dadin Kowa Dam to the N26bn Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park.
According to him, equipment at the industrial park has been carted away by suspected vandals, undermining the state’s economic development drive.
On the Ramadan intervention programme, Yahaya said 70,000 vulnerable residents across the state would benefit from the distribution of food items, including rice, macaroni, spaghetti, cooking oil and sugar.
He directed members of the Palliative Distribution Committee to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness in the process, adding that the items must be distributed within three days.
The governor appealed to residents to support security agencies with credible information to curb child trafficking and other criminal activities threatening peace in the state.
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