Police rescue 17 suspected trafficked children in Nasarawa
17 persons suspected to be victims of human trafficking have been rescued by the Nasarawa State Police Command
The victims were rescued on Saturday, January 17 around the Sharp Corner axis of Mararaba in Karu Local Government Area during a routine stop-and-search operation by patrol officers attached to Mararaba ‘A’ Division
A statement signed by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ramhan Nansel, disclosed that the vehicle conveying the victims had 17 passengers—11 boys and six girls—aged between 10 and 19 years.
According to the statement, both the driver, Nanle John, 36, and the passengers said they were travelling from Shendam, Plateau State, to Kayama in Kwara State to meet one Umaru (surname unknown), who allegedly promised to secure farming jobs for them.
The command noted that efforts to contact the parents or guardians of the victims, as well as the said Umaru, were unsuccessful, as all phone numbers provided were unreachable.
The Commissioner of Police, Shetima Jauro Mohammed, has ordered that the minors be taken into protective custody at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Lafia, and a thorough investigation carried out to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident while also apprehending those involved in the suspected trafficking network.
He reaffirmed the command’s commitment to protecting vulnerable persons and eradicating human trafficking in the state, while urging members of the public to report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station.
