NSCDC arrests two suspects for child trafficking in Jigawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, Jigawa State Command has arrested two suspected child traffickers.

NSCDC spokesman in the state, CSC Adamu Shehu, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, November 9, 2022, said the duo was arrested on a suspected case of Trafficking and Criminal Conspiracy contrary to sections 281 and 96, punishable under sections 97 and same 281 of the penal code CAP P3 VOL III laws of Jigawa State 2012.

“The suspects, Audu Sambo (65) of Unguwar Dorawa village, Gwiwa LGA and Dahiru Usman (37) of Maje village, Roni LGA were arrested on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, for their involvement in taking a 12-year-old girl, Hajara Audu Sambo, to work as a domestic servant in Katsina State,” the statement read. 

“After serving for about three months in Katsina, the girl was taken to Dutsen Alhaji in Bwari Area Council, FCT to work for the sister of her mistress. But for the past five months the young girl was reportedly missing,”

“All efforts from the Father (Audu Sambo) to get his daughter back through the agent (Dahiru Usman) proved difficult, which made him report the case to the NSCDC Divisional office in Gwiwa. Unknown to him he’s equally an accomplice to the crime.

“Upon arrest and interrogation of the agent (Dahiru Usman) by the Anti-human Trafficking Unit of the Command, he confessed to have taken the girl to Katsina twice spending about 2 years with the consent of her father (Audu Sambo), who received N5,000 monthly from the client in Katsina, but denied knowing that the girl was taken to Abuja to serve another woman. He equally confessed that has been in this business for ages aside farming.

“At present there are four other girls aged 16, 14, 13, and 12 respectively that he took two to the same woman in Katsina given her name as one Hajiya Maimuna and two to another Lady called Aunty Sadiya in Abuja. He added that he got paid by his client whenever he took girls to her and also from the parents when the girls returned back.

“Further investigation also revealed that the father (Audu Sambo) received calls twice from his daughter while she’s in Abuja and also received the sum of N10,0000 from her mistress before her disappearance.

“The State Commandant, Musa Alhaji Mala (CC) admonished parents to desist from giving out underaged children to serve as domestic workers as it exposes them to exploitation and other social vices, he also assured the general public that no stone will be left unturned in the cause of investigation, after which, all those involved will be apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.” 

Victim