NSCDC rescues 13 victims of human trafficking in Kano

The Kano State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has rescued 13 victims of human trafficking in the state.

The state commandant of the corps, Mohammed Lawal-Falala, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Kano.

Lawal-Falala disclosed that the victims were rescued on May 20, 2024, at Dan Tsinke Quarters in Tarauni Local Government Area of the state.

According to him: “We received a piece of information that a man kept young female children in his house and trafficked them to Cameroon to seek greener pasture.

“On receiving the information, special surveillance was coordinated by the corps operatives attached to Tarauni Division and the victims were rescued.”

He also disclosed that one suspect was arrested by the operatives of the corps for keeping the victims in his house, while two prime suspects are at large.

He explained that the rescued victims included five women, three female children, a boy and four men.

“The rescued victims were on their way to Maiduguri en route to Cameroon for labour exploitation. Out of the 13 victims, 10 are from Kano, while three are from Jigawa,” Lawal-Falala said.

The commandant said that the victims will be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for necessary action.

He called on residents in the state to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity, as the command would continue to ensure a crime-free and safe state.

Similarly, the NSCDC Kano State Command also arrested a suspect who specialised in stealing tricycles and handsets.

Lawal-Falala said the operatives of the corps arrested the suspect on May 20 in Kano Metropolis.

“Several people have been coming to the command to lodge complaints against the suspect for tricycle theft,” he said.

He said that the suspects would be charged in court upon the completion of the investigation.

Meanwhile, speaking to newsmen, the suspect said that he normally disguised himself as if he had a fracture on his leg, which would be tied with a bandage, after which he would board a tricycle with his friends.

“Me and my friends would charter a tricycle and on reaching our destination, we would divert the tricyclist and use our key to steal it. I’d stolen four tricycles. We took them to Katsina State and sold them,” the suspect said.