Forty-one children, comprising 22 boys and 19 girls were rescued by a detachment of policemen in Kwara State Police Command on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at about 4am.
Their children’s ages fall between five and 15 years.
Three suspected human traffickers, identified as Musa Ayuba, 44; Jeremiah Muda, 35; and Luka Ayuba, 37, all from Bangi village via Kotongura, Niger State, were arrested.
It was learnt that the policemen on special security assignment along the Okolowo expressway, intercepted the traffickers and the children while they were waiting for a lorry to convey them to their destination in Ilorin.
The police image-maker in the state, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, who confirmed this in a statement, said that the suspects while undergoing interrogation, claimed to be coming from Niger State to Ilorin to meet a particular pastor to enrol the children in a yet-to-be-determined school.
Saying that his claims looked spurious, the PPRO assured that it would be discreetly investigated, as there was suspicion of child trafficking.
He disclosed that the children had been kept in police custody in the command, while efforts were being made to contact the state Ministry of Women’s Affairs.
SP Okasanmi stated further that investigation and contact with the children’s parents and guardians were also ongoing.
In his reaction, the state Commissioner of Police, Paul Odama, advised parents and guardians to avoid releasing their children to unknown or deceitful child traffickers, as the children might be used as house help and other despicable jobs, which are against the child rights laws.
The police commissioner said the arrested suspects would be charged in court after a thorough investigation.
