Gombe Governor Says 48 Children Aged Two to Five Were Taken, Calls for Public Support

Governor Inuwa Yahaya has raised alarm over child theft in Gombe State, saying official records show 48 children between the ages of two and five have been taken and moved out of the state.

Speaking on Friday in Gombe during the inauguration of a Ramadan palliative distribution exercise, the governor said uncertainty remains over whether the missing children will be recovered. He did not state when the abductions occurred, but described the trend as a serious threat to public safety.

Yahaya said: “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.” He added: “Their parents are here within the state; for the children, we don’t know if they would be found or not.”

The governor also linked recent incidents to changing security realities in the state. He said a boy was abducted at Orji Estate after restrictions on motorcycle movement were relaxed, but noted that the child was later rescued.

Yahaya said security should not be seen as the duty of government alone, stressing that communities must support state efforts if peace is to be sustained. He said some groups have criticised recent controls introduced by the government, but maintained that those steps were taken for public good.

“We must take serious measures to tackle these emerging threats and restore peace in the state,” he said. He also asked residents and stakeholders to reflect on why insecurity has worsened and support difficult but necessary decisions.

The governor referred to pressure from people affected by the ban on metal scrap dealings, saying some had sought intervention from religious leaders because they depended on the trade for income. He said the measure was introduced to reduce crime, including repeated motorcycle theft and attacks on public assets.

He also lamented vandalism of major infrastructure, including railway installations and facilities connected to the N26 billion Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park. According to him, electrical equipment planned to transmit power from Dadin Kowa Dam to the park has already been tampered with, and some items were removed.

On social support, Yahaya said 70,000 vulnerable beneficiaries were selected for Ramadan palliatives across the state, including persons with disabilities, religious bodies, orphanages, party support groups, and other low-income residents. He directed the distribution committee to complete delivery within three days and ensure fairness, transparency and accountability.