The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intercepted a group of 12 trafficked children en route to Lagos State. The victims, intercepted in Abuja, have been handed over to the Nasarawa State government.
Moses Unongo, NAPTIP’s head of operations in the state, revealed that the victims, aged between 10 and 23 years, were enticed by a cleric from Ninghar village in Akwanga local government area of Nasarawa. The cleric had promised them lucrative jobs in Lagos and assured quality education for the minors among them.
Unongo emphasized that investigations are underway to uncover more details about the perpetrator and urged parents to educate their children about the perils of trafficking. He reiterated NAPTIP’s commitment to public awareness, aiming to prevent individuals from falling prey to trafficking.
Aisha Rufai Ibrahim, the commissioner for women affairs and social development in Nasarawa State, received the victims on behalf of the state government. She commended NAPTIP for its dedicated efforts in combating trafficking and reiterated the state government’s unwavering stance of zero tolerance towards trafficking.
Rufai highlighted the state’s enactment of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition bill as a proactive measure to curb the activities of traffickers.
