No fewer than 14 victims of human trafficking have been rescued by the police in Katsina and arrested two suspected traffickers.
Spokesman of the command Superintendent of Police Gambo Isah while parading the suspected traffickers and the rescued victims said, they were intercepted in Mashi Local Government Area of the state based on credible information.
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The rescued victims who are between the ages of 18 and 36 included 11 females and 3 males are from Kwara, Lagos, Delta, Ogun, Benue, Anambra, Osun and Akwa Ibom states respectively.
Spokesman of the Command, Gambo Isah said the victims were being taken to Libya through the Niger Republic when the police team intercepted them.
He added that from preliminary investigations, none of the 14 victims possess any travel document and are not aware of the kinds of job they are going to do.
21-year-old Salman Sani from Babra local government area of Jigawa state and 35-year-old Muntari Magaji from Mashi Local Government Area are the two suspected traffickers involved in the chain of the crime.
Magaji speaking to Newsmen said, all the 14 victims spent 3 days in his house and slept on the floor while he fed them with bread, minerals and water.
He added that, 1,000 naira is what he received per victim as his own commission in the business.
One of the victims, who said he is a builder confessed that, they have not paid any money to their agents but added that, when they get to Libya, they will work for 1 year to cover up the expenses.
All the victims according to the police, will be taken to the hospital for examination and thereafter, hand them over to the National Agency for the prohibition of trafficking in persons, NAPTIP, for further actions.
Editor: Paul Akhagbemhe
