The National Agency Prohibiting Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has rescued no fewer than 23 victims of human trafficking in the neighbouring Niger Republic.
The victims who consist of one boy and twenty-two ladies between the age of 15-25 years were rescued after a failed attempt to take them to Tripoli in Libya.
Speaking while addressing newsmen on Tuesday, the Zonal Commander of the agency in the state, Barrister Abubakar Bashiru, said the victims were rescued after spending 11 days in two rooms where they were kept.
“We received them in Illela after they were rescued by the Immigration service in the Niger Republic and handed over to their counterpart in Nigeria.
“The victims who are between the age of 15 to 25 are mainly from Southern part of the country who were cajoled to make use of the Illela border through the Niger Republic to Tripoli in Libya.
“They are victims of fraudulent human trafficking arrangements which we are currently investigating to ascertain the suspects behind the move.”
He said NAPTIP has commenced an investigation to find out the culprit responsible for the act.
He also expressed sadness that despite sensitizing the public against the danger of trafficking, parents of some of the victims in trafficking cases are always accomplices in committing the crime.
Before now, officials of NAPTIP have identified Sokoto State as a source, transit and destination (STD) for most trafficking merchants.
One of the victims who spoke with our correspondent on condition of anonymity confessed that a friend of hers who resides in Tripoli in Libya connected her to the travel agents.
She said on getting to Sokoto from the Southern part of the country she was connected with other victims with whom they were supposed to embark on the trip.
She however disclosed that a member of the gang who received them in Sokoto asked them to delete the phone contact of their agent whom they have been communicating with before arriving in Sokoto.
She thanked NAPTIP and other security agencies who came to their rescue.
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