Immigration rescues nine children

Posted by admin Latest Politics Sunday, February 20th, 2011

Officials of the Nigerian Immigration Service in Ekiti State have rescued nine trafficked teenagers from traffickers operating in the state.

Our correspondent gathered that the teenagers, who were brought to Ido-Ajinare, a town in Ekiti South Local Government from Benue State, were waiting to be ‘sold’ to the would-be buyers when officials of the NIS visited their camp and arrested them, including the person, who allegedly brought them from their state.

One of the NIS officials, who pleaded not to be mentioned because he was not authorised to speak with journalists, said that the office was informed of the camp for trafficked persons in Ido-Ajinare and its officials were sent for confirmation.

He said, “We got there and we were surprised to hear them asking us how many (persons) we wanted to buy. It is unfortunate that they just give the children away to strangers whose addresses they did not know.”

The NIS official said that the traffickers had built a house in the town where they camped their “new import from Igede in Benue State, who are waiting to be sold into slavery.”

He further explained that while waiting to be sold, the teenagers were used for farming, especially to grow vegetables.

Another officer of the NIS said that they would have to go and enlighten the monarch in the town about the activities of the suspected human traffickers in his domains if he was not aware of it.

“If we find out that the traffickers still continue, we won’t hesitate to get anybody found to be aiding the criminals arrested no matter their positions.”

One of the teenagers, a boy, told our correspondent that he was working with a retired justice in Ekiti State.

He said, “I am in JSS 3 at a private school in Ado-Ekiti. I am working for Justice (name withheld) and I am happy being with him because he is the one paying my fees.

“I travelled home to see my mother, who is sick and while returning, I stayed back at Ido-Ajinare and I was arrested by those who came there. My parents know that I am with him. I only work during weekends.”

Another trafficked teenage girl said that she had worked with a family in Lagos State where she was allowed to learn tailoring. But she said that she would be happy if she could be allowed to go back to school because she dropped out from JSS 2.

-Punchwp_posts