The Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, on Thursday intercepted 21 minors, suspected to be victims of trafficking, at the Geidam border post in Yobe.
The Yobe State Comptroller of NIS, Sani Sule-Jega, disclosed this while handing over the children to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for further investigation.
Sule-Jega reported that the minors were being transported from Magama Local Government Area of Niger State to the Republic of Niger.
“These minors, aged between seven and 15, were intercepted at the Geidam border outpost.
“Our core mandate is border security and migration management, and this interception is a testament to our commitment.
“They were travelling without any documentation, which raised our suspicion; hence, we handed them over to NAPTIP for proper investigation,” he said.
The suspected trafficker, identified as Abubakar Sadiq, claimed the children were being taken to Niger Republic for educational purposes.
He said their parents had requested him to find affordable schools for them in Maine, Niger Republic.
According to NAN, the driver, the suspected trafficker, and the rescued children have been handed over to NAPTIP for further investigation.
