11 Boys Rescued from Traffickers in Kogi Reunited with Families in Jigawa
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has successfully reunited 11 boys, victims of human trafficking, with their families in Ringim Local Government Area, Jigawa State. The handover ceremony took place on Sunday in Dutse, the state capital. The rescued children, all aged between seven and 15, were originally from Tsaba, Kunkurawa, and Tsabare villages in Ringim. They were rescued by NAPTIP operatives in Lokoja, Kogi State, following intelligence on their illicit movement.
Speaking at the ceremony, NAPTIP’s Commander in Jigawa State, Abdulkadir Turajo, represented by the Head of Operations, Yunusa Mohammed, emphasized the importance of swift action in ensuring the safety and reintegration of trafficking victims. He commended the prompt collaboration of the Jigawa State Ministry for Local Government and Community Development, which facilitated the handover.
“The swift cooperation between NAPTIP and local authorities enabled the victims to be quickly reunited with their families,” Turajo said. He further reaffirmed the agency’s dedication to combating human trafficking nationwide through victim identification, rescue, and reintegration programs.
Receiving the children on behalf of Ringim Local Government, Chairman Badamasi Garba, represented by the council’s Director of Personnel Management, Idana Isah, praised NAPTIP for its intervention. He assured that the local government would ensure the boys’ effective rehabilitation and reintegration, while also taking measures to prevent similar trafficking incidents in the future.
The successful rescue and reunification underscore ongoing efforts by federal and state authorities to tackle human trafficking and protect vulnerable children from exploitation across Nigeria.
