The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has handed over 21 minors rescued from suspected traffickers to the Niger state government.
Binta Adamu-Bello, director-general (DG) of NAPTIP, handed over the children in Abuja on Tuesday, revealing that an investigation by the agency showed the boys were being taken to an Islamic school in the Niger Republic.
She said the boys, aged between nine and 16, were intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) at the Geidam border post in Yobe state on February 2.
“It was only last night we put a call through and were able to reach Governor Umar Bago,” NAN quoted Adamu-Bello as saying.
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“Our inquiry about Islamic schools in Niger State shows there are many of them. Why then take these children to Niger Republic when such schools exist within the state?”
She urged the state government to counsel parents on enrolling their children in local Islamic schools and encouraged them to consider formal education so the children could benefit from both Western and Islamic learning.
Receiving the children on behalf of the Niger state government, Ahmed Suleiman-Yumu, commissioner for humanitarian and disaster management, commended NAPTIP for its swift intervention.
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He assured the agency that its recommendations would be conveyed to the state governor.
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