The 32 victims of human trafficking intercepted and handed over to National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Benue State Zonal Command, has been reunited with their families after eight days in custody.
The victims were taken home on Wednesday, in two buses accompanied by NAPTIP officials as well as officials of Ukum Local Government Area.
The NAPTIP Commander, Makurdi Zonal Command, Mrs Gloria Bai, who saw the victims off at the agency’s premises, said the 32 victims, mostly underaged children were intercepted on the 5th of January, and handed over to them on the 11 of January 2022, the police officials.
According to her, the suspect and the 32 children, all from Ukum Local Government Area, were enroute Osun State when they were intercepted.
She noted that out of the 32 young children, 29 have long been staying in Osun for some years saying they only came home to celebrate the Christmas and was going back while 11 others were new recruits.
Mrs Bai said during questioning, they discovered that it was more of a business organized by one Mr. Isaac, a family member who lives in Osun.
“The suspect said her husband owns a Non-Governmental Organization, NGO, and wants to help the children get access to education because of the crisis in their area.
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“So when they land in Osun, they distribute them to people in their church to do house helps, shop attendants among other jobs and in return the people send them to school.
“We are yet to find out whether the organization is genuine and if the children were being exploited but the suspect is still in our custody for further investigation.”
The NAPTIP Zonal Commander who noted that some of the children were taken at the age of 10 and others below 18 years pointed out that it is against the law to engage any child below the age of 18 as a house help or for any form of labour.
“Three of the children are from one parents and from what we heard, the parents are ready to give out all their children even when they don’t know where the children are headed.”
She urged members of the public to give the agency information that would make it to detect human trafficking and also called on LG Chairman and traditional rulers in the state to assist the agency in sensitizing the people.
She stated that it is time to engage parents to plan their families and give birth to children they can cater for rather than distribute them to strangers.
Speaking, the Ukum Local government Chairman, Steve Ayua, represented by his Assistant, Eruka Henry, thanked NAPTIP for their commitment to rid the state of trafficking saying both parents and officials of the LG are waiting to receive the children.
Some of the children, Cynthia Vihimga and Orya Michael who spoke to our correspondent said they are happy to be reunited with their families and appealed to state government to help them continue their education.
