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 females aged between 15 and 50 years.
The Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Abdullahi Babale, confirmed the development on Monday in Kano while receiving the victims from the Kano State Hisbah Board, which carried out the operation in collaboration with the agency.
According to him, the victims were intercepted on August 31 at Karota Luxurious Park, Hotoro Western Bye-Pass, while en route to Ghana and onward to Saudi Arabia for suspected labour exploitation.
Babale disclosed that the victims, who hail from Kano, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa, and Zamfara States, were being trafficked under the guise of securing better job opportunities abroad.
He further revealed that one suspect, identified as Mohammed Saleh, 45, had been arrested in connection with the case, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the trafficking syndicate.
“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 said.
He commended the Commander-General of the Kano Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, and the Kano State Government for their continued collaboration in combating human trafficking and protecting vulnerable citizens.
Babale assured that the victims would undergo counselling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families, in line with NAPTIP’s victim-centred approach.
He also called on parents to be more vigilant in safeguarding their children from traffickers who exploit economic hardship to lure victims with false promises of greener pastures abroad.
“We urge members of the public to report any suspicious movement or activities related to human trafficking in their communities,” he added.
