The Kano State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, has rescued 13 victims of human trafficking.
State Commandant Mohammed Lawal-Falala announced the rescue operation during a press briefing on Tuesday in Kano.
Lawal-Falala revealed that the victims were rescued on May 20 at Dan Tsinke Quarters in the Tarauni Local Government Area.
He stated that the corps acted on a tip-off about a man who was allegedly keeping young female children in his house and trafficking them to Cameroon in search of better opportunities.
”On receiving the information, special surveillance was coordinated by the corps operatives attached to Tarauni Division and the victims were rescued,” said Lawal-Falala.
He also disclosed that the operatives of the corps arrested one suspect for keeping the victims in his house while the two prime suspects were still at large.
The corps commander explained that the rescued victims included five women, three female children, a boy and four men.
“The rescued victims were on their way to Maiduguri en route to Cameroon for labour exploitation.
“Out of the 13 victims, 10 are from Kano, while three are from Jigawa,” Lawal-Falala said.
The commandant said the victims would be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, for necessary action.
He called on the state residents to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity as the command would continue to ensure a crime-free and safe state.
Lawal-Falala called on parents to protect their wards from being exploited and lured into slavery in the name of seeking greener pastures.
Similarly, he said the corps arrested one suspect who was specialising in stealing tricycles and handsets.
Lawal-Falala said the operatives of the corps arrested the suspect on May 20 in Kano Metropolis.
“Several people have been coming to the command to lodge complaints against the suspect on tricycle theft,” he said.
He said the suspects would be charged to court upon completing the investigation.