Not fewer than 12 women have been rescued from the hands of suspected human traffickers in Kano State during a coordinated operation by the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons in collaboration with the Kano State Hisbah Board.
The victims, whose ages range between 15 and 50, were intercepted as they were allegedly being transported to Ghana, with plans to subsequently move them to Saudi Arabia for forced labour.
Speaking on Monday while receiving the victims from Hisbah officials, the Kano Zonal Commander of NAPTIP, Abdullahi Babale, confirmed the operation and provided further details.
He said, “The women were being moved to Ghana and later to Saudi Arabia, where they were likely to be exploited for forced labour.”
The victims are reportedly from several northern states, including Kano, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa, and Zamfara. One suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohammed Saleh, has been arrested in connection with the case, while efforts are ongoing to track down other members of the trafficking syndicate.
Babale assured that the rescued women would be supported throughout their recovery process.
“They will receive counselling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families. NAPTIP always works with a victim-centred approach,” he explained.
He also used the opportunity to call on the public to be more vigilant and proactive in the fight against human trafficking.
“We call on the public to report any suspicious movement or activities related to human trafficking,” he added.
