NAPTIP rescues 18 trafficked girls in Sokoto

The National Agency for the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), said it rescued 18 girls being used as house helps in Sokoto. Asmau Aliyu, NAPTIP zonal head of counselling and rehabilitation, disclosed this in Sokoto when she paraded the trafficked children and two suspects.

She said that the children, aged between four and 12 years, were brought to Sokoto from Niger and Kebbi States for “child labour.” Aliyu said: “We have two suspects at hand, a couple, and they will be prosecuted for the alleged offences of child exploitation, child abuse and human trafficking.

“We will keep the children in our custody for their safety, accommodation, feeding, counselling and rehabilitation. We will eventually reunite the children with their various families afterwards.” She appealed to parents to desist from allowing some “selfish individuals” to engage their children in the obnoxious act.

The suspects, Abdullahi Umar and his wife, Ummi Usman, denied all the allegations. The couple claimed that the children were brought by their parents for “Quranic studies,” and not for menial jobs.

Also commenting, Abdulganiyu Abubakar, coordinator of ‘Save the Child Initiative, an NGO, commended the agency for its swift action. Abubakar, who is also national coordinator, West African Network for the Protection of Children, described the situation as ‘sad.’

He said that, the use of children for child labour was against the relevant laws in Nigeria, including the one establishing NAPTIP. Abubakar appealed to parents to desist from allowing their children to “be trafficked and engaged in such unwholesome acts.