The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has taken 12 women into custody after they were rescued from human traffickers in Kano.
The victims, aged between 15 and 50, were intercepted in a joint operation with the Kano State Hisbah Board.
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NAPTIP’s Kano Zonal Commander, Abdullahi Babale, confirmed the development on Monday while receiving the women from the Hisbah officials. According to him, the victims were on their way to Ghana and eventually to Saudi Arabia, where they were likely to be exploited for labour.
The rescued women come from Kano, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa, and Zamfara states. They were reportedly lured abroad with promises of legitimate employment. One suspect, 45-year-old Mohammed Saleh, has been arrested, while efforts continue to apprehend other members of the trafficking network.
Babale said the victims will receive counselling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families, stressing that NAPTIP prioritizes a victim-centred approach in such cases. He also urged parents to remain vigilant and called on the public to report any suspicious activity related to human trafficking.
