National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP in collaboration with the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS, has rescued nine Liberians and six Nigerians from human traffickers in Kano.
NAPTIP’s Northwest Zonal Commander in charge of Kano, Barrister Abdullahi Babale, made the disclosure to Radio Nigeria.
According to him, the victims are apprehended by operatives of the Nigeria Immigration Service NIS, in Kano state and handed over to NAPTIP for further investigation.
Mr. Babale explained that the victims were Liberian citizens comprising five females and four males respectively.
“Our Investigation revealed that their journey was influenced by someone, who once traveled to Agadez, Niger Republic and received an empowerment package from International Organisation for Migration”
The Northwest Zonal Commander pointed out that, the Agency had embarked on an in-depth investigation into the case, to bring the perpetrators to justice and reunite the victims with their families.
Similarly, NAPTIP had rescued six victims of human trafficking and arrested one suspected of facilitating an illegal trip in Kano.
“The person led the victims to also receive the same empowerment package in Agadez, and return to Liberia through Kano.”
Reports indicate that operatives of the agency rescued the victims at Kwanar Madugu in Ungogo local government area of Kano, on their way to Libya through Kano.
The victims, two females, and four males while the suspected facilitator of the trip is also a male, and an investigation reveals that they are indigenes of Edo state on their way to Libya for exploitative labour.
Radio Nigeria reports that NAPTIP is saddled with the responsibilities of overseeing, and receiving cases of human trafficking, and child labour, among others in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Jigawa, and Bauchi states.
COV/KHADIJAH ALIYU, KANO