Forty-three victims of human trafficking were on Friday rescued in Katsina and Kano States on their way to different parts of Africa and Europe for various exploitative purposes.
Twenty-one of the victims were intercepted in Kano by operatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, while 22 others were intercepted by the Nigeria Immigration Service in Katsina State and handed over to the Agency for investigation and reunion with their families.
One suspect, who was caught along with the victims in Katsina State, was arrested.
The victims who were rescued in Kano State were intercepted at Kwanaa Dangora, a link between Kano, Jigawa and Katsina States.
Preliminary investigations indicate that they were being trafficked to Europe.
The victims consist of 19 males and two females, whose ages range between 16 and 37.
They are from Edo, Imo, Nasarawa, Kogi and Delta States.
The victims that the Nigeria Immigration Service handed over to NAPTIP were intercepted at Kwado village in Katsina State on their way to Morocco via Niger Republic.
The victims consist of 12 females and 10 males.
They are from Delta, River, Edo, Abia, Imo and Kogi States and are within the age bracket of eight and 38.
Reacting to this development, the Director General of NAPTIP, Julie Okah-Donli, commended operatives of NAPTIP and the Nigeria Immigration Service in Kano and Katsina States for a job well done.
Describing human trafficking as a crime against humanity and God, Okah-Donli directed the NAPTIP operatives to do everything possible to track down the traffickers involved.
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