The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has intercepted nine suspected trafficking victims heading to Libya through Babura border in Jigawa State.
Victims Include Zamfara Indigenes Fleeing Banditry
NAPTIP’s Zamfara State Commander, Aliyu Abubakar, revealed that Nigerian Immigration Service operatives intercepted the victims.
Three of the nine victims, all female, hail from Yankuzo village, a community plagued by banditry in Tsafe Local Government Area, Zamfara State.
Forced to flee their homes, the girls had been living in Kaduna State before traffickers targeted them.
Traffickers Lured Victims with False Job Promises
Abubakar explained that human trafficking syndicates exploited the girls’ vulnerability by promising lucrative jobs in Saudi Arabia.
However, he stated that the traffickers intended to transport the victims to Libya, where they would likely face exploitation and abuse.
Community Leaders Urged to Combat Human Trafficking
At the handover ceremony in Gusau, Ishaq Anka, Executive Secretary of the Zamfara Substance Abuse Control and Prohibition of Human Trafficking Agency, warned against falling for fake overseas job offers.
He emphasized that such promises often lead to exploitation, urging rural communities to remain vigilant.
Victims Handed Over for Rehabilitation
NAPTIP officials handed the victims over to the Chairman of Tsafe Local Government, who pledged to raise awareness and prevent future trafficking cases.
Growing Concern Over Border Trafficking
Human trafficking remains a major issue in Nigeria’s border regions. In February, authorities rescued 21 trafficked children from Magama LGA, Niger State.
The children, with an average age of 9, were intercepted by immigration officers in Gaidam, Yobe State, while en route to Niger Republic.
State Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba confirmed that the rescued children are now in government custody.
