A statement issued by Terna Tyopev, the spokesman for the state police command, said the children, who are all boys, are between four to eight years old.

It said the kids were to be shared to Plateau, Kaduna and Nasarawa states.

Tyopev said the police are  in touch with the Plateau chapter of Jama’atul Nasril Islam and other critical stakeholders, to establish contact with the two state governments for the return of the children to their parents.

"This trend, if not checked, will cause embarrassment to Plateau, north-central and the nation at large," the spokesman said.

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He said the driver, conductor, and all accomplices have been arrested and will be charged to court.