CENTUS NWEZE REPORTINGÂ
Police in Ilorin, city capital of Kwara, North Central State, Nigeria, may have found itself in a dilemma over its purported rescue of 41children it believed were on the verge of being trafficked.
It is no longer clear if these were children being sent to Forster care by displaced parents in nearby Niger, another North Central State and neighbour to Kwara which has suffered banditaty activities in the last two years.
But police reports say that on January 14, 2023, its operative along the Okolowo expressway, intercepted the trio of Musa Ayuba, 44, Jeremiah Muda, 35, and Luka Ayuba, 37, all of Bangi village via Kotongora, Niger State, with 41 young boys and girls (22 boys and 19 girls) with their age ranging from five and fifteen years, while waiting for a lorry that was to convey them to their destination in Ilorin.
“The suspects, while undergoing interrogation, claimed to be coming from Niger State to Ilorin to meet a certain pastor to enroll the children in a yet-to-be-determined school, the claim that looked spurious would be discreetly investigated, as it is highly suspected to be a case of child trafficking,” said Ajayi Okasanmi.
Churches in Ilorin have been involved in clandestine rehabilitation work for children of displaced villagers from some states.
Human trafficking laws in Nigeria prohibits taking in of non-relations minors unless with express official approval.
The children are presently in the custody of the police command, while efforts to contact the state ministry of women’s affairs. Investigation and contact with the children’s parents and guardians are ongoing.