Nigeria’s anti-human trafficking agency said on Friday it rescued eight women and arrested two suspects in Kano state in operations targeting a cross-border trafficking syndicate.
Abdullahi Babale, head of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Kano, said the victims, aged between 18 and 43, were intercepted on Oct. 1 at Malam Aminu Kano International Airport as they prepared to travel to Saudi Arabia.
“Preliminary investigation revealed they were to be trafficked for labour exploitation by two Ghanaian nationals,” Babale told News Agency of Nigeria. He said six of the women held one-way tickets. One suspect is in custody while the other remains at large.
Babale said NAPTIP also rescued two other women in July who had been trafficked from Kano to Burkina Faso for sexual exploitation. A 30-year-old woman was arrested in Kano in connection with the case, which investigators linked to her sister based in Burkina Faso.
“The suspect was arrested in Kano, and the victims were rescued and brought back via Lagos by road,” Babale said, adding that all suspects would be charged in court after investigations.
The commander said the victims will receive counselling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families. He urged parents to be vigilant, warning traffickers often exploit economic hardship with promises of jobs abroad.
NAN