NAPTIP rescues 12 female trafficking victims heading to Saudi Arabia
Story by Susan Mbamah
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano Zonal Command, has taken custody of 12 rescued victims of human trafficking. All of the victims are female, ranging in age from 15 to 50.
The Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Abdullahi Babale, confirmed the rescue on Monday in Kano. The victims were handed over by the Kano State Hisbah Board, which conducted the rescue operation in partnership with NAPTIP.
According to Babale, the victims were intercepted on August 31 at the Karota Luxurious Park, Hotoro Western Bye-Pass. They were on their way to Ghana and then to Saudi Arabia for suspected labor exploitation.
READ ALSO: How traffickers use online loans, scholarships, others to entrap victims – NAPTIP
The victims, who are from Kano, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa, and Zamfara states, were being trafficked under the false pretense of finding better job opportunities abroad.
One suspect, 45-year-old Mohammed Saleh, has been arrested in connection with the case, and efforts are underway to apprehend other key members of the trafficking network.
“The rescue and arrest are in line with the directive of the NAPTIP Director-General, Hajiya Binta Adamu-Bello, to intensify intelligence gathering and crack down on suspected traffickers operating within Nigeria,” Babale stated.
He praised the Commander-General of the Kano Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, and the Kano State Government for their ongoing collaboration in the fight against human trafficking and for protecting vulnerable citizens.
Babale assured the public that the victims would receive counseling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families, in line with NAPTIP’s victim-centered approach.
READ ALSO: Human Trafficking Crackdown: NAPTIP, DIA nab 3 suspects, rescue 20 foreign nationals
He also urged parents to be more vigilant in protecting their children from traffickers who exploit economic hardship with false promises of a better life abroad.
“We urge members of the public to report any suspicious movement or activities related to human trafficking in their communities,” he added.
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