By Chioma Iruke
National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) alongside Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), on Tuesday embarked on a joint operation that resulted in the arrest of a suspected trans-border human trafficker, Nurudeen Sani.
The agency’s Head of Press and Public Relations, Stella Nezan, disclosed this in a statement titled, ‘Notorious trans-border human trafficker arrested, 13 Libyan-bound victims rescued’.
The operation, which was carried out in Kano, also resulted in the rescue of 13 Libya-bound victims, comprising two boys and 11 girls.
It followed a tip-off from some concerned stakeholders, who were disturbed by the activities of the suspect.
According to Nezan, NAPTIP has also commenced a manhunt for two other members of the trafficking ring simply identified as Bose and Ismael.
The victims, who were said to have been recruited from the South-West, were heading for Libya through Niger Republic when they were intercepted at the Basarawa community along the Kano-Katsina Road.
While Sani is currently being interrogated by NAPTIP operatives, the victims are undergoing counselling as part of the agency’s rehabilitation protocol.
Speaking on the arrest, the Director-General, NAPTIP, Basheer Mohammed, expressed concern over the activities of traffickers and warned parents against yielding to pressure or deceit to hand their children over to them.
Mohammed said, “It is sad that despite the painful experience of victims along these notorious trafficking routes, especially the Libya corridor, some people still agree to be trafficked out of the country.
“This is a dangerous decision.”
The NAPTIP boss vowed that the agency would trail the remaining gang members and bring them to justice.
“NAPTIP shall go after the remaining members of this trafficking gang and they will be made to face the full wrath of the law,” he said.
