About Forty one children and teenagers have been rescued by operatives of the Kwara State police command from the claws of human traffickers.
The victims comprising 22 boys and 19 girls between the ages of five to fifteen were rescued on Saturday in Ilorin from three human traffickers in Niger state while waiting to distribute them to their various destinations.
NigeriaCrime.com learned that the three human traffickers identified as Musa Ayuba, 44, Jeremiah Muda, 35, and Luka Ayuba, 37, all of Bangi village via Kotongura, Niger State were arrested and are currently being investigated.
Confirming, the victim’s rescue, the Spokesperson of Kwara State police command, Ajayi Okasanmi, said “along the Okolowo expressway, a detachment of policemen on special security assignment intercepted the trio of Musa Ayuba, 44, Jeremiah Muda, 35, and Luka Ayuba, 37, all of Bangi village via Kotongura, Niger State, with 41 young boys and girls (22 boys and 19 girls) with their age range between five and fifteen years while waiting for a lorry that was to convey them to their destination in Ilorin.”
Ajayi Okasanmi added that the suspects while undergoing interrogation, claimed to be coming from Niger State to Ilorin to meet a certain pastor to enrol the children in a yet-to-be-determined school.
He stressed that” the claim looked spurious and would be discreetly investigated, as it is highly suspected to be a case of child trafficking.”
“The children are presently in the custody of the police command, while efforts to contact the state ministry of women’s affairs are ongoing. Investigation and contact with the children’s parents and guardians are also ongoing.”The statement said.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Kwara State Cp Paul Odama has advised parents and guardians to avoid releasing their children to unknown or deceitful child traffickers, as the children might be used as house helps and other despicable endeavours, which is against the child rights laws.
Any suspects arrested in this case would be charged in court after a thorough investigation.