Two suspected human traffickers have been arrested and paraded by men of the Taraba State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Confirming the arrest, the state commandant, Adamu Salihu, identified the suspected human traffickers as Daniel Mading and Federation Markus.
Salihu also disclosed that the suspects were apprehended Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the Jalingo Main Motor Park part of the state.
The commandant stated that the suspects were nabbed where they were attempting to transport sixteen victims, aged between ten and sixteen, to Benin, Edo State.
Among the victims, five are females and eleven are males, from Zing and Bali Local Government Areas of the State, where reports suggest that such inhumane practices are on the rise.
Preliminary investigations by Salihu revealed that the arrested individuals are part of a larger syndicate specialising in trafficking underage children.
They lure victims with promises of a better future in Edo State, only to subject them to degrading menial jobs, confiscating the proceeds from the exploited children.
Salihu expressed concern over the alarming trend of parents entrusting the care of their children to strangers, resulting in harm and exposure to avoidable dangers.
He questioned the logic of expecting others to take responsibility for children’s well-being, including feeding, clothing, education and overall welfare.
“How can one give birth to children and expect others to take responsibility for their feeding, clothing, education, and general well-being?” He asked.
The commandant disclosed that trafficked children often end up in child labour, prostitution, baby factories, organ harvesting and money rituals.
Salihu urged all stakeholders to collaborate and take decisive actions to completely eradicate this menace in the state.
The arrested suspects and their victims have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution