Police Rescue Seven Victims of Human Trafficking in Katsina

James Danjuma, Katsina

Seven suspected victims of human trafficking have been rescued by the police in Katsina state.

The victims, according to a statement, are aged between 20 to 28 years, and were rescued last week at Yankara village, Maiadua Local Government Area.

The statement, signed by the spokesperson to the police command in the state, SP Gambo Isah however said their trafficker escaped on sighting the police where they had been hiding.

“Based on credible intelligence, the Command raided a criminal hideout at Yankara village, Koza District, Mai’adua LGA of Katsina state and rescued the following victims of human trafficking hiding in the house.

“Success Oshoopkeme, 20, of Asoko LGA, Edo State. Isaac Debora, of Ugunagbo LGA, Abia state. Amoruwa Ade, 28, of Irede LGA, Ondo state. James Rebecca, 20, of Minna LGA of Niger state.

“Emmanuel Godwin, 22, of Eka North LGA of Delta state. Zainab Tijjani, 21, of Ibadan LGA of Oyo state, and Taofik Olawale, 27, of Ibadan LGA of Oyo state.

“In the course of the investigation, victims stated that they were brought to the village by their agent, who on sighting the police team, took to his heels and escaped with their GSM phones.

“They further stated that they are on their route from Nigeria to Libya through the Niger Republic border.

“Investigation is ongoing. They will be handed over to National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) office, Kano, for further investigation and arrest of the traffickers.”

Also, the state police command says it has repelled an attack by terrorist bandits at Fudimaea village, in Kurfi council area of the state.

The command, in the statement, added it was able to recover all the domestic animals rustled by the bandits, and inflicted gunshot injuries on several of them.

“On 27/01/2022 at about 0100hrs, terrorist-bandits in their numbers, attacked Fadimawa village, Kurfi LGA and rustled unspecified number of domestic animals.

“DPO Kurfi led a team of policemen to the scene and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gun duel.

“The operational strategy and gallantry displayed by the team made them to overpower the hoodlums and recovered all the stolen animals.

“Many of the terrorists have escaped with bullet injuries.

“Search parties are still combing the nearby bushes with a view to arresting the hoodlums and/or recovering their dead bodies. Investigation is ongoing.”