The Niger state government has taken custody of 21 trafficked children, with an average age of 9, who were intercepted by the Nigeria Immigration Service in Gaidam, Yobe state, while being transported to Niger Republic.
The children, all from Magama Local Government Area of Niger State, were rescued by authorities, according to State Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba.
Garba received the trafficked victims on behalf of the state government, but did not disclose the identity of the person leading the trafficked children.
He said that investigation into trafficking incident is ongoing.
In a surprising twist, one of the parents of the victims, Usman Jamilu, denied that his children, Umar Jamilu, 6, and Maruf Jamilu, 5, were trafficked, claiming that he had handed them over to Abubakar with his consent.
He identified the culprit as Malam Abubakar, a well-known person in their community who had studied in Niger Republic.
The rescue of these children highlights the ongoing issue of human trafficking in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions. According to reports, thousands of children are trafficked every year, with many being forced into labor, marriage, or prostitution.
The Niger State government has pledged to provide support and care to the rescued children.
