Operatives of Operation Safe Haven, a special task force outfit in Plateau state, have rescued 135 children from human traffickers in Jos, the state capital.
According to Channels TV, the children, who are all male and within the age range of four to eight years, were rescued from two trucks headed to Plateau, Kaduna and Nassarawa.
“On Thursday January 12, the special task force, sector 2 located opposite University of Jos, intercepted two trucks conveying 145 children from Bauchi and Jigawa states to Plateau, Kaduna and Nassarawa states,” Mathias Tyopev, spokesman of the Plateau state police command, said.
“Our investigations further revealed that these children, who are all male were to be taken to places where the three mallams, who were coordinating the movement have not even visited.”
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The children were being transported in trucks meant to transport farm produce such as grains, animals and other goods across the states.
It was converted to convey the minors under harsh and unfavourable weather conditions in which the children were stacked alongside grains without any comfort for such long distance journey.
The children are in the custody of the Nigeria Police at their headquarters in Jos, while investigation continues.
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The police said the suspects, comprising two drivers, eight conductors and three accompanying instructors, are in custody, and they have been providing information about how they came about the children and their destination.
The police added that it would soon embark on the process of establishing contact with Jigawa and Bauchi state governments for the return of the children to their parents.
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