The Bauchi State government has successfully reunited seven children with their families after they were rescued from a child trafficking syndicate that operated in Kano State.
The children, who were reportedly sold for N2.8 million, were victims of a criminal enterprise that stole and trafficked children from the northern region to the southern part of the country.
The Nigerian police, acting on intelligence, busted the child trafficking syndicate in Kano State and arrested members of the gang.
The Kano State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Gumel, who paraded members of the syndicate, shed more light on the extent of their criminal activities.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who received the rescued children from the state’s Commissioner of Police, Auwal Muhammad, handed them over to their parents.
Emphasising the need to eradicate such barbaric practices, the governor expressed worries about the potential for such a criminal act to sow suspicion and mistrust among different communities in Nigeria.
The governor condemned the act of stealing children, selling them, and forcibly altering their linguistic and religious identities for monetary gain.
“If this barbaric act is not nipped in the bud, it is capable of bringing suspicion and mistrust between the different people in Nigeria. It is unacceptable for people to be stolen and sold, and their linguistics and faith changed just because of money.
“I hope these are the only victims. I hope many others have not been mutilated or killed,” Governor Bala said.
The governor cautioned parents against neglecting their responsibilities towards their children.
He pledged to support the security agencies with the necessary tools to carry out their duties effectively, particularly in addressing child rights issues.
However, it was observed that some of the rescued children no longer spoke or understood their native language.
