The Oyo State Command of the Nigerian Immigration Service, on Saturday paraded one pastor Olufemi Timothy, and four others who were accused of child trafficking in Ibadan. The command also paraded 12 other boys and four girls for allegedly being used by the accused persons in a slavery ring. News 360 reports:
The Controller of the command, Innocent Akatu, said the accused persons were apprehended in various locations in Ibadan, adding that they would be handed over to the National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons for legal actions.
Our correspondent, who was at the command when the culprits and their victims were handed over to NAPTIP officials from Lagos, observed that the children were not well fed and clothed. One of the children, who identified herself as Glory, said that she had been in Nigeria for three years without being paid. She could not recognise places where she had worked or whom she had worked for. She also said her mother was told by someone that she was coming to Nigeria to work and earn good money.
Akatu said, “Human trafficking is a serious crime that we are trying to end. We have very young children being taken away from their parents under the pretext that the traffickers would get jobs for them or give them a better standard of living. Many of them are brought into Nigeria from Benin Republic, Togo and other neighbouring countries. They are sold into slavery by those who brought them into the country.”
He made reference to a boy of nine years old, who was brought to Ibadan from Benue by his brother and sold into slavery, saying, “He does not know where he is. These children do not receive the wages paid for them. The money goes to the people who brought them. So it’s pure slavery. In the past, when we arrested children like these, we reconciled them with their parents. Even the foreigners would be taken to their countries. But we now felt that the method did not help to check the problem. That is why we are handing them over to NAPTIP for appropriate legal action,” Akatu said.
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I have been reporting on latest news from Nigeria for almost 10 years now. I report on every possible news area I come across, but always ensure my reports are compiled with dignity and fact to uphold my personal values and duty as a journalist
Posted: at 15-02-2015 03:15 PM (10 years ago) | Addicted Hero
Giftous1 at 15-02-2015 03:23 PM (10 years ago) (f)
There is god
Posted: at 15-02-2015 03:23 PM (10 years ago) | Gistmaniac
egwuevans17 at 16-02-2015 05:29 AM (10 years ago) (m)
this happen everyday in Ibadan, Some local pastors bring young girls from Benin, Togo to work as house helps, but they don't give this little girls salaries, they always toldthem they will send the money to their mother in this young girls various countries,....
Posted: at 16-02-2015 05:29 AM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
egwuevans17 at 16-02-2015 05:31 AM (10 years ago) (m)
i don't know where else it happens in Nigeria, but it is a very common thing in Ibadan. Even some of this girls end up having unwanted pregnancies and became liabilities at the long run.
Posted: at 16-02-2015 05:31 AM (10 years ago) | Upcoming
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