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The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intercepted a group of suspected trafficking victims en route to Libya through the Babura border in Jigawa State.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Gusau, the Zamfara State Commander of NAPTIP, Aliyu Abubakar, revealed that nine victims were intercepted by operatives of the Nigerian Immigration Service.
Out of the total, three of the victims were identified as indigenes of Zamfara State.
The three female victims are from Yankuzo village, a community ravaged by banditry under the Tsafe Local Government Area of Zamfara State
The victims had previously fled their hometown due to persistent bandit attacks and had been residing in Kaduna State.
The Zamfara Commander of NAPTIP, Aliyu Abubakar, noted that some human trafficking syndicates exploited the vulnerability of the girls by luring them with false promises of lucrative job opportunities in Saudi Arabia.
Abubakar explained that, unknown to the victims, the traffickers were taking them to Libya, where they would likely face exploitation and abuse.
The Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Substance Abuse Control and Prohibition of Human Trafficking Agency, Ishaq Anka, cautioned residents, especially those in rural areas, against falling prey to individuals who promise them greener pastures abroad.
Anka emphasized that such promises often result in exploitation and human trafficking.
The victims were later handed over to the Chairman of Tsafe Local Government, who pledged to work closely with the community to raise awareness and prevent future cases of trafficking.
Trafficking is common in border areas in the country and beyond. In February, the Niger state government took 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.
