The Kano Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has taken 12 female victims of human trafficking into custody. The women, aged between 15 and 50, were rescued during a joint operation with the Kano State Hisbah Board.
Zonal Commander Abdullahi Babale confirmed the operation on Monday, revealing that the victims were intercepted on 31 August at Karota Luxurious Park, Hotoro Western Bye-Pass. The women were being trafficked to Ghana and then to Saudi Arabia for suspected forced labour exploitation.
The rescued women hail from Kano, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa, and Zamfara States and were lured under false promises of overseas employment.
One suspect, 45-year-old Mohammed Saleh, has been arrested, while authorities continue to track other members of the trafficking network.
Babale explained that the rescue and arrest align with directives from NAPTIP Director-General Hajiya Binta Adamu-Bello to intensify intelligence gathering and dismantle trafficking operations across the country.
He commended the Commander-General of the Kano Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, and the Kano State Government for their ongoing collaboration in combating human trafficking and safeguarding vulnerable citizens.
The Zonal Commander assured that the rescued women would receive counselling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families, consistent with NAPTIP’s victim-centred approach.
He also cautioned parents to remain vigilant, noting that traffickers often exploit economic hardship to entice unsuspecting victims with promises of lucrative opportunities abroad.
Babale called on the public to provide timely information about suspicious movements or activities related to human trafficking in their communities, stressing that collective vigilance is essential to curbing the menace.