The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Taraba State Command, has arrested and paraded two suspects, two persons for alleged involvement in human trafficking.
The suspects were identified as Daniel Mading and Federation Markus.
The arrest took place on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at the Jalingo Main Motor Park, where the suspects were attempting to transport sixteen victims, aged between ten and sixteen, to Benin, Edo State.
Among the victims, five are females and eleven are males, from Zing and Bali Local Government Areas of the State, where reports suggest that such inhumane practices are on the rise.
Preliminary investigations by the state commandant, Adamu Salihu, revealed that the arrested individuals are part of a larger syndicate specialising in trafficking underage children.
They lure victims with promises of a better future in Edo State, only to subject them to degrading menial jobs, confiscating the proceeds from the exploited children.
Salihu expressed concern over the alarming trend of parents entrusting the care of their children to strangers, resulting in harm and exposure to avoidable dangers.
He questioned the logic of expecting others to take responsibility for children’s well-being, including feeding, clothing, education and overall welfare.
“How can one give birth to children and expect others to take responsibility for their feeding, clothing, education, and general well-being?” He asked.
The commandant disclosed that trafficked children often end up in child labour, prostitution, baby factories, organ harvesting and money rituals.
Salihu urged all stakeholders to collaborate and take decisive actions to completely eradicate this menace in the state.
The arrested suspects and their victims have been handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.