By Jawati Friday
Adamawa State Government has handed over fourteen rescued abducted children who were trafficked to their parents in the state.
The handing over took place at Government House, Yola.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Professor Kaletapwa Farauta, explained that a notorious trafficker had perfected the act of trafficking minors aged between four and five years from various communities in the state to the southeastern region of Nigeria, where she sold the victims for amounts ranging from eight hundred thousand naira to 1.7 million naira per child.
According to the Governor, the perpetrator operated from a small provision shop she owned at Jambutu Ward in Yola-North Local Government Area, where she used snacks and gifts to lure unsuspecting children.
He stressed that the crime is not only traumatic to the victims and their parents but also a sad and strange reality for the state.
Fintiri further explained that about fourteen children had been rescued, rehabilitated, and adequately prepared to be reunited with their respective parents and loved ones.
The state government also provided one hundred thousand naira, along with food and non-food items, to the parents to cushion the effect of the reunion and to support the establishment of small enterprises to cater for their households.
He therefore called on parents to take parenting more seriously, adding that children are sacred blessings from God.
Also speaking, the State Commander of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons NAPTIP, Hassan Abubakar Naibi, explained that human trafficking is becoming more rampant in the state, and urged parents to be vigilant.
In their remarks, the State Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Neido Geoffrey, and the Member representing Yola-North in the State House of Assembly, Suleiman P. A., appreciated the Governor for his quick intervention in rescuing the trafficked children in the state.
Some of the parents who spoke to Radio Nigeria expressed joy while receiving their children and appreciated the state government for its efforts.
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