 in Kano has taken custody of twelve women rescued){kind=link}
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) in Kano has taken custody of twelve women rescued from a suspected human trafficking ring.
The victims, all female and aged between 15 and 50, were reportedly intercepted while being transported abroad for labour exploitation.
Zonal Commander of NAPTIP in Kano, Abdullahi Babale, confirmed the development while receiving the victims from the Kano State Hisbah Board, which carried out the rescue in partnership with the agency.
According to Babale, the victims were stopped on August 31 at Karota Luxurious Park in Hotoro, along the Western Bye-Pass.
They were allegedly on their way to Ghana, with Saudi Arabia as their final destination, under the guise of job offers that turned out to be a trafficking scheme.
“The victims were deceived with promises of better employment opportunities overseas,” Babale said. “Instead, they were being moved for exploitative labour conditions.”
The women are said to be from Kano, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa, and Zamfara States.
Authorities have confirmed the arrest of a 45-year-old suspect, identified as Mohammed Saleh, in connection with the case, while efforts to track down other members of the network are ongoing.
Babale explained that the operation followed directives from NAPTIP’s Director-General, Hajiya Binta Adamu-Bello, to strengthen intelligence gathering and clamp down on traffickers operating within Nigeria.
He praised the Kano Hisbah Board and the Kano State Government for their consistent cooperation in combating trafficking and safeguarding vulnerable citizens.
“We appreciate the unwavering support of our partners in ensuring that these criminal networks are dismantled,” he said.
“This rescue reflects the joint commitment to protecting lives and restoring dignity to victims of trafficking.”
The agency confirmed that the rescued women would receive counselling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families.
Babale also urged parents to remain alert, warning that traffickers often exploit economic challenges and lure victims with fake promises of greener pastures abroad.
“We call on members of the public to report any suspicious movements or activities related to trafficking in their communities,” he added.