The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has handed over 12 rescued children to the Niger State Government after thwarting a human trafficking attempt at the Nigeria-Niger border.

The Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Bello, officially transferred custody of the children to Governor Mohammed Bago at a ceremony held in Abuja.

According to Bello, the children, all from Magama Local Council Area of Niger State, were being transported to Maine Soroa, Diffa region of Niger Republic, when immigration officials intercepted them during a patrol in Yobe State.

“The information we got was that they were being taken to an Islamic school in Niger Republic. I asked the commissioner a while ago — are there no Islamic schools in Niger State? And he affirmed that there are many,” Bello said.

She advised the state government to counsel and rehabilitate the rescued children, while urging parents to enroll their wards in Islamic schools within the state that also provide Western education.

In response, Governor Bago, represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Ahmed Yumu, pledged to intensify public awareness on the dangers of entrusting children to unverified individuals.