Child Protection Network Nigeria: Exposes Illegal Adoption, Trafficking Risks

• The Child Protection Network Nigeria (CPNN) reported at least 36 child abuse cases within a few months, including physical abuse, neglect, trafficking, sexual abuse, and illegal adoption.
• CPNN National Coordinator Olakunle Sanni called for urgent national action to strengthen child protection and enforce child-protection laws more rigorously.
• Sanni highlighted child trafficking and illegal adoption as significant concerns, noting their use as pathways for exploitation and illicit child transfers.
• The Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home in Kagini was recently resealed by authorities over alleged illegal operation and child trafficking, with investigations ongoing.
• CPNN emphasized that despite government interventions, millions of Nigerian children remain vulnerable to various forms of abuse and exploitation.

This abuse, particularly concerning illegal adoption, has become a pathway for trafficking, exploitation, and the illicit transfer of children.

The Child Protection Network Nigeria (CPNN) recently highlighted the severe challenges facing children across the nation, revealing a significant number of abuse cases within a short timeframe. Olakunle Sanni, the National Coordinator for CPNN, addressed a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, where he underscored the urgent need for comprehensive national strategies to protect vulnerable children. The organization documented no fewer than 36 incidents of child abuse over several months, encompassing physical harm, neglect, child trafficking, sexual exploitation, and illegal adoption.

These reported incidents, while specific, are indicative of broader Nigerian child abuse statistics and systemic issues, according to Sanni. He detailed a range of pervasive problems confronting children nationwide, including sexual abuse, abduction, physical violence, neglect, poverty, homelessness, hunger, exclusion from education, and inadequate healthcare access. Sanni emphasized that despite various interventions by federal, state, and local governments in areas such as education, healthcare, school feeding, social protection, and anti-trafficking operations, millions of children continue to face serious risks.

A primary concern articulated by CPNN revolves around the pervasive issue of child trafficking, which exposes young individuals to various forms of exploitation. Children are frequently subjected to domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, forced labor, street begging, illegal recruitment, and exploitative family placements. Furthermore, the dangers of irregular migration significantly heighten children's vulnerability to trafficking, violence, sexual exploitation, detention, disappearance, and even death.

The CPNN also raised alarms regarding the integrity of child adoption processes, noting that while legitimate adoption serves as a crucial child-protection mechanism when conducted lawfully and in the child's best interests, it is increasingly being abused. This abuse, particularly concerning illegal adoption, has become a pathway for trafficking, exploitation, and the illicit transfer of children. Olakunle Sanni specifically condemned the alleged involvement of certain orphanages and motherless babies’ homes in these illicit practices, underscoring the critical need for stricter oversight.

This concern is exemplified by the resealing of the Divine Hope Orphanage and Less Privileged Home in Kagini, an area near Kubwa, in August 2026. This action was carried out by the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, after the orphanage was found to have illegally resumed operations following an initial sealing in January 2026, with investigations into alleged illegal operation and child trafficking ongoing.

In response to these alarming trends, Olakunle Sanni advocated for robust CPNN child protection laws enforcement. He called for a significant strengthening of existing child-protection legislation, coupled with faster investigation and prosecution of offenders. Additionally, Sanni stressed the importance of increasing access to essential medical, legal, and psychosocial support services for survivors of abuse. He also urged parents, teachers, and caregivers to abandon violent disciplinary methods, condemning practices such as beating, torture, burning, and chaining, in favor of positive and non-violent approaches.

Addressing the specific threats of trafficking and abduction, Sanni urged the government to bolster border protection measures, enhance family tracing initiatives, improve documentation processes, and expand public awareness and reintegration programs. He also called for the creation of safe alternatives for vulnerable families. Regarding child abduction, particularly from schools and conflict-affected communities, Sanni identified it as one of the most significant threats, emphasizing that schools must be safe havens, not places of fear. He commended government and security agencies for their efforts in securing schools and rescuing abducted children but pressed for stronger intelligence gathering, early-warning systems, community participation, rapid response capabilities, and improved security around vulnerable educational institutions. Sanni affirmed that every abducted child must remain a national priority until safely reunited with family or placed in appropriate protective care.

Sanni underscored that the challenges facing Nigerian children are deeply interconnected, necessitating a unified and coordinated national response. He described sexual abuse as one of the most disturbing violations of childhood, noting its prevalence in environments where children should feel secure, including homes, schools, and religious institutions. A significant barrier to addressing these issues is the prevailing culture of silence surrounding child abuse, which often shields perpetrators, whether they are family members, institutions, or influential individuals.

Despite acknowledging various governmental interventions aimed at child welfare, CPNN maintains that millions of children across Nigeria remain exposed to severe risks. The call for stronger enforcement of child protection laws and increased accountability reflects a growing demand for a more secure environment for all children, particularly in light of ongoing Nigeria child trafficking concerns and the complexities surrounding legal and illegal adoption.

Lawyers advising orphanages, child welfare organizations, or individuals involved in adoption processes in Nigeria should note the heightened regulatory scrutiny and calls for stricter enforcement of child protection laws, particularly concerning illegal adoption and trafficking. Compliance officers in relevant institutions must review and strengthen their child safeguarding policies to mitigate legal and reputational risks, as authorities are actively investigating and prosecuting offenders, including sealing non-compliant facilities.

Source: Reporting based on a press briefing by the Child Protection Network Nigeria.