by RJ Johnson

It is rare to find eleven unknown children anywhere in the world. So when they are found in the middle of New Mexico starving and being trained to use guns, it raises plenty of red flags.

During an unsuccessful search for a missing 3-year-old boy named Abdul-Ghani, Authorities found the eleven other children inside of a compound located in Amalia, New Mexico. Searching for Abdul started nine months ago in Jonesboro, GA.

When the investigation began, the primary suspect for the kidnapping was Abdul-Ghani’s own father Siraj Ibn Wahhaj, as reported by New York Times. The two of them were last seen together traveling through Alabama with other children and adults.

The report of these two going missing by their mother was key for finding the rest of these children in the compound. Although the initial report was for Abdul, there was no sign of him being there with the other children.

This led police to believe that he was there weeks prior, and had been taken elsewhere by his father.

The children who officials did find ranged from ages 1 through 15, and were taken to the compound for weapon training in hopes of future violent acts being performed. Siraj Wahhaj is believed to be a Muslim extremist, giving police more insight on the reasoning behind the kidnapping and training.

Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe told the press in a statement that the environment of the compound is the “[The compound is] the saddest living conditions and poverty I have seen,” said Taos County Sherriff Jerry Hogrefe. “[The children] looked like third-world country refugees not only with no food or fresh water, but with no shoes, personal hygiene and basically dirty rags for clothing.”

With seeing the condition of the 11 children found, this only raises more concern for the last unaccounted child Abdul-Ghani.

Hakima Ramzi posted about her son Abdul disappearance on her Facebook page in January.

“He’s sick, he needs his medications,” she said, fighting back tears. “He needs everything. I don’t know if he’s alive, or he is, well, I don’t know his condition now.”

Hamika Ramzi has been the only person to come out and make a missing persons report. The remaining children have not had anyone come out and do the same. This raises suspicion as to where the children have come from.

Wahhaj is the only one out of five defendants in the group to be charged with 11 counts of child abuse stemming from neglect. The search for Abdul-Ghani is still on, further action will be taken once he is found. Allowing the Officials and Taos County Police to put the kidnappers behind bars.