The Niger State Government has confirmed the rescue of 21 trafficked children, with an average age of 9 years and below, from Magama Local Government Area of the state.
The State Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba, stated this while receiving the children on behalf of the Niger State Government in Minna.
He highlighted that the underage children were intercepted in Gaidam, Yobe State, while en route to Cameroon, Mali, and Niger Republic.
The Deputy Governor, speaking at a press conference held in his office at the Government House, Minna, further explained that the rescued children are all from Magama Local Government Area.
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He expressed appreciation to the federal government, security agencies, and NAPTIP (National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons) for their efforts in rescuing the children.
Comrade Yakubu Garba emphasised that human trafficking is a crime that undermines the spirit of brotherhood, stressing the need for government protection against all forms of human trafficking, violence, oppression, injustice, and inhumane treatment.
He maintained that the act violated Section 34, Subsection 1, and Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution, which forbids all forms of trafficking in persons in the country.
In response, one of the parents of the rescued children, Jamilu Usman, identified two of his children—6-year-old Umar Jamilu and 5-year-old Maruf Jamilu—as among those rescued.
He mentioned that one Malam Abubakar (other names withheld), a well-known person to him and other parents, studied in the Republic of Niger.
Usman explained that he and other parents gave Malam Abubakar permission to take their children to Niger Republic to acquire Islamic education.
He added that he is the headmaster of Tungan Gari Primary School in Magama Local Government Area, married to four wives, and blessed with 30 children. He noted that he is due to retire from service in the next five years.
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