21 Boys In Search Of Islamic Education Rescued From Human Traffickers At Nigeria/Niger Border
By Bukar BOLORI
Twenty-one boys have been saved from being trafficked under the disguise of Islamic education (Almajiri) across the border of the country into neighbouring Niger Republic.
They were rescued last weekend by immigration officers at the Geidam Border Control Post while their abductors were trying to transport them to Maine Saroua in Diffa Provinvce of Niger Republic.
The immigration officers subsequently handed them over to the National Agency Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, (NAPTIP), who transferred them to Niger State Government.
Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Abuja, the Director General NAPTIP, Hajiya Binta Bello, said the boys were trafficked from their homes in Magama Local Government Area of Niger State and were being trafficked to Maine Saroua in Diffa district of Niger Republic.
The DG who handed over the children to the Niger state governor, Usman Bago, explained that the children and their traffickers were intercepted by men of the Nigeria Immigration Nigeria, (NIS), on patrol at the Nigeria/Niger border in Yobe state.
She said: “The information we got was that they were being taken to an Islamic school in Niger. I asked the commissioner a while ago, are there no Islamic schools in Niger State? And he affirmed that there are many, many Islamic schools in Niger State.
“So my advice to the government of Niger State, is that they should counsel the parents and these children, they should rehabilitate them and ensure that they register them in Islamic schools that also teach Western education so that they can benefit the two.”
On his part, the Niger governor said the state government will step up public enlightenment so that parent can understand better the damaging impact of handing over their children to individuals that are not trustworthy.
Represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Ahmed Yumu, the governor applauded the DG of NAPTIP for the effort at stopping human trafficking.
