Oluwanifemi Ibikunle
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has rescued five children allegedly being trafficked from Kebbi State to the Benin Republic under the guise of securing better educational opportunities for them.
The children were intercepted in Edo State while a suspected trafficker, identified as Pastor Ayuba, was allegedly transporting them towards the Benin Republic.
The Kebbi State Commander of NAPTIP, Misbahu Iya Kaura, disclosed this on Monday night when the agency handed the rescued children over to the Kebbi State Government at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.
Kaura said the suspect claimed that the children’s parents had given him permission to take them to the neighbouring country to enrol them in schools and provide them with improved educational opportunities.
The NAPTIP commander, however, warned that such promises were often used by traffickers to gain the trust of parents before exposing children to exploitation and other forms of abuse.
“This is how they convince people to carry their children under the pretext of enrolling them in schools abroad, but end up abusing them or putting them into slavery,” Kaura said.
He disclosed that the principal suspect had been arrested and would be prosecuted after the completion of investigations.
Kaura’s disclosure highlights the risks faced by children whose parents rely on informal arrangements or unverified individuals to facilitate education or travel outside the country.
Receiving the children on behalf of the Kebbi State Government, Governor Nasir Idris, represented by his Deputy, Senator Abubakar Umar Tafidan Kabi, urged parents to exercise greater caution before entrusting their children to individuals promising educational opportunities abroad.
The deputy governor advised parents to properly verify the identities, destinations, schools and intentions of anyone offering to take their children outside Nigeria.
He warned that parents who knowingly facilitate the activities of traffickers would face the full weight of the law.
The government subsequently reunited the rescued children with their parents.
One of the parents, Emmanuel Aduba, expressed appreciation to the Kebbi State Government and NAPTIP for intervening and ensuring the safe return of the children.
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