The police command in Niger State says it has rescued two children who were found stranded after a vehicle carrying them went missing near Government School in Suleja.

The command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said in a statement that the incident occurred on Monday at about 8:40 a.m.

Mr Abiodun said the complainant had taken the children, aged eight and 12, to the school to seek admission but was denied entry because he had incomplete documents.

He said the man subsequently drove away from the school gate, parked by the roadside and handed the vehicle keys to the children before leaving to photocopy some documents at a nearby computer centre.

“On returning to the spot where he parked, he discovered that the vehicle and the children were nowhere to be found,” Mr Abiodun said.

According to the spokesperson, the vehicle, a Toyota Highlander with registration number ABJ 810 GZ, had disappeared with the children inside.

He said police officers were immediately mobilised to the scene, where they interviewed the school’s security officers before launching an intensive search along the Abuja-Kaduna highway.

Mr Abiodun said the vehicle was subsequently found abandoned along the highway, with the two children stranded nearby.

“The vehicle was recovered and properly searched while the children were rescued unhurt, and when questioned, they revealed that they slept off while waiting for their father to return,” he said.

Police added that the investigation was ongoing.