Police save nine kids, catch suspected traffickers in Niger

The police have saved nine children believed to be victims of child trafficking. They also arrested two suspects in different operations in Niger State.

Wasiu Abiodun, the spokesperson for the state command and a superintendent of police, said the arrests were made by officers from the Madalla and Kpakungu police divisions.

Abiodun said officers on patrol along the Madalla, Suleja road stopped a vehicle carrying six girls aged between seven and 13 years.

The driver, Dauda Ayuba from Senchi village in Paikoro Local Government Area, was arrested on suspicion of trafficking children.

According to Abiodun, early investigations revealed that the suspect came from Benin City, Edo State, to Niger at the request of a woman named Iyee and two others who are still missing. They asked him to pick up the children.

He said the suspect admitted to receiving N194,000 for transport and logistics. He also said the children were meant to work as domestic staff, salesgirls, and in other forms of child labour to make money.

The suspect lied to the children's parents, saying he was taking them to school.

During questioning, he reportedly said he would earn N10,000 as a monthly commission for each child. He also mentioned that each child's monthly pay would be N20,000.

The police have moved Mr Ayuba to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for more investigation. They have also reached out to the parents of the rescued children.

In a different operation, the Kpakungu Police Division arrested Mary Anthony, 37, in the Gurara area of Minna. She had three girls aged between eight and 10 years, who are also suspected victims of child trafficking.

Mary claimed the parents of the children in Gbachiko Village, Kagarko Local Government Area of Kaduna State, gave them to her. She said it was because she had trained with the elder sister of one of the girls.

But the police found problems with her story. Although she said she was taking the kids to an orphanage in Suleja, she was stopped in Minna instead.

The police have also transferred Mary to the SCID for further investigation. The three rescued girls are now in protective custody, and their parents have been contacted.

The police said they are still investigating to catch other members of the suspected child trafficking groups and to make sure they face justice.