From Olanrewaju Lawal , Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued five underage children from suspected human traffickers who were allegedly taking them to Edo State.
The Kebbi State commandant of NAPTIP, Misbau IyaKaura, disclosed this during the handover of the children to their parents at Government House, Birnin Kebbi.
IyaKaura said the children were taken from their parents in Dankowagu and Zuru Local Government Areas of the state with the promise that they would be enrolled in modern schools. He said the children were intercepted in Gusau, Zamfara State, while allegedly being transported to Edo State.
According to him, five suspects were arrested in connection with the incident, while another suspect remained at large.
The commandant said the agency was also currently caring for 23 deportees from different African countries, including Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia, who he said required proper rehabilitation before their reintegration into society. He appealed to the Kebbi State Government to provide suitable accommodation within the command’s premises for rescued victims pending the completion of investigations.
Responding, Governor Nasir Idris, represented by the Deputy Governor, Umar Abubakar Tafida, warned parents against allowing strangers to take their children away under the guise of providing them with better educational opportunities.
The governor said parents had a responsibility to protect their children and should not hand them over to people whose identities and destinations were unknown.
He warned that the state government would punish parents who deliberately allowed their children to be taken to unknown destinations.
The deputy governor subsequently handed the five children back to their parents after reprimanding and warning them over their failure to adequately protect the children.
(The Sun)