Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has issued a stern warning, vowing to prosecute any parent caught surrendering their child to traffickers for monetary gain.
The Governor made this statement while receiving nine trafficked children rescued by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
The children were reunited with their parents during a ceremony at the Government House in Birnin Kebbi.
Expressing his anger over the growing activities of trafficking syndicates, particularly in the southern parts of Kebbi State, with Zuru Emirate being a major target, Governor Idris declared that the government would pursue legal action against anyone involved, even to the Supreme Court.
To strengthen the fight against human trafficking, the Governor directed that NAPTIP be included in the monthly allowances allocated to security agencies.
This, he said, would bolster the agency’s efforts to combat trafficking in the state.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Commandant of NAPTIP, Misbahu Kaura, revealed that the rescued children were deceptively taken from their parents under the guise of being sent to school.
Investigations showed that traffickers, with the help of local agents in Zuru Local Government, sold the children for amounts starting from ₦280,000.
The Commandant expressed gratitude to the Governor for providing an operational vehicle to support NAPTIP’s activities in the state.
The Chairman of Zuru Local Government, Isa Gajere, stated that they have intensified campaigns to sensitize the public, especially parents, about the dangers of human trafficking, as directed by the Governor. He emphasized that significant progress is being made in the fight against this negative trend.
