By Adeyanju Esther
The Kano Zonal Command of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has taken in 12 victims rescued from human trafficking.
The announcement was made by Zonal Commander Abdullahi Babale, on Tuesday in Kano, where he welcomed the victims, who had been rescued by the Kano State Police Command.
Babale reported that the police had apprehended three individuals in connection with the trafficking: Shafi’u Salisu, 25, from Bachirawa Quarters in Kano; Rebecca Adebayo, 22, from Kwara State; and Mujibat Olagoke, 27, from Oyo State.
He explained that the rescued victims, all females aged between 15 and 40.
“They were intercepted on August 3 around 4:15 PM on the Tsanyawa Federal Highway, Kano, by officers from Tsanyawa Division. They were en route to Libya for labour exploitation.
“The 12 rescued victims are from Ondo, Ogun, Oyo, Kwara, and Imo States,” he confirmed.
The zonal commander appreciated the Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mr Salman Dogo-Garba, for his cooperation.
He said the suspects would be charged in court upon completion of investigations and also urged parents to protect their children from being exploited in the name of seeking greener pastures.
Babale urged the public to report suspicious cases of human traffickers and trafficking in their respective communities to appropriate authorities for prompt action.
He stated, the suspects would be prosecuted in court once the investigations are completed, and he also advised parents to safeguard their children from being exploited under the guise of seeking better opportunities.