The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) on Tuesday handed over 21 trafficked children to the Niger State government.
The victims, all boys, ages between nine and 16 years, were being trafficked to the Niger Republic before their rescue by officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) on Sunday in Abuja.
In her address at the handing over ceremony, the Director-General of NAPTIP, Hajia Binta Adamu-Bello, said the investigation conducted by NAPTIP revealed that the victims were on their way to Islamic School in Niger Republic before their interception by the Immigration officers.
She said: “It was only last night we put a call through and we were able to get to Governor Umar Bago.
“Our inquiry about Islamic Schools in Niger State shows they have a lot of them.
“Why did they go to Niger Republic, if they have such schools in Niger State.”
She implored the Niger State government to counsel parents to register their children in Islamic Schools in the state.
The NAPTIP boss also advised the parents of the rescued children to register them in formal schools to benefit from Western and Islamic education.
The Niger State Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman-Yumu, commended NAPTIP for the move to reunite the children with their families.