As the Niger State Police Command rescued 36 people from human traffickers and arrested 10 suspects, it has reunited 35 rescued kidnapped victims with their families.
The command’s spokesperson, Wasiu Abiodun, said all the members of a 10-man human trafficking syndicate were arrested in Minna, the state capital.
He said the suspects specialised in international human trafficking of unsuspecting victims to different locations through false pretences as travel agents and engaging in the extortion of the victims.
According to him, the suspects were arrested based on credible intelligence received about their activities at 123 Quarters, Minna.
“They were discovered to be indigenes of various neighbouring West African Countries and could basically speak in French, except their Nigerian collaborator, Hashimu, who provides accommodation for the syndicate in Minna and one other”.
“The operation led to the rescue of thirty-six youths of different countries such as Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali, Burkina-Faso and Guinea without any documents”.
Those Arrested were Sokou Doumbia, Thiarno Balbe, Hashimu Dauda Kolo, Usman Doumbia Musa Konate, Lamine Watara, Racine Diouf, Adamu Zarbu, Alhassan Konde and Dango Aminatu
“During interrogation, they claimed they had come to Nigeria for an online business. However, all the suspects and the victims were transferred to the Interpol for further investigation and other necessary actions,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the command has released and reunited the recently rescued 35 kidnapped victims/survivors, who consist of 16 women and 19 children from Kagara, Tegina and Agwara with their families, having spent a few weeks in Police protective custody and dissuading their minds from the hoodlums.
“During the brief handing over occasion to the Hon. Chairman Rafi LGA, Hon. Ayuba Usman Katako, the Commissioner of Police noted that the victims will be reunited with their families as they have been under Police protective custody with necessary support and care from the State Government”.
