By: Bayero Ade
The Niger State government has welcomed 21 children who were rescued from a human trafficking syndicate operating in Magama Local Government Area (LGA).
According to Afripost, on Wednesday, Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba expressed his shock and outrage during a statement in Minna, confirming that the victims, all boys aged 10, hailed from Magama LGA. The traffickers were apprehended in Geidam, Yobe, while attempting to smuggle the children across the border into the Niger Republic.
An investigation into the trafficking ring is ongoing.
Garba condemned the practice, noting that human trafficking violates Section 34(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees the right to dignity for every individual. He highlighted the disturbing nature of human trafficking, which often leads to forced labor, prostitution, organ harvesting, and even harmful medical experiments.
The Deputy Governor reiterated the state’s commitment to collaborating with the federal government to tackle human trafficking, emphasizing that Niger, already facing terrorism, will not tolerate actions that threaten peace, security, and the welfare of its citizens.
Garba called for vigilance from local government chairpersons, traditional and religious leaders, and parents, urging them to report any suspicious activity to law enforcement agencies. He also warned that parents involved in supporting trafficking would face severe legal consequences.
He expressed his gratitude to the Federal Government, security forces, and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for their efforts in rescuing the children and apprehending the perpetrators.
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