Kogi Govt. Repatriates 34 trafficked children to Plateau State

The Kogi State Government, has repatriated 34 trafficked children to Plateau State, Fresh Angle International can report.

Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatima Kabir Buba, made the disclosure today, Sunday December 19, during a press briefing held in Lokoja, the state capital.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, had intercepted two commercial buses ; Toyota Sienna and a 12 - Seater Mazda with registration numbers Lagos LND 124 FV and Oyo BDJ -683 YK, respectively on the 16th of December, along the Okene-Lokoja Expressway. The vehicles were reportedly conveying minors from Ogun to Plateau State, for a human trafficking syndicate.

Our Kogi State Correspondent, reports that during interrogation, the bus drivers allegedly confessed that the kids were handed over to them by a woman at Ijebu-Ode, known as Mama Blessing AKA (Martina) with a directive to convey the minors to Abuja, adding that, on arrival in the FCT, the woman was to call another bus driver, who would have conveyed the children to Riyom in Plateau State.

The Kogi State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajia Fatima Kabir Buba said the repatriated children are within the ages of nine and 19.

Buba added: "After several interviews and investigations by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Kogi State, we were made to understand that all the trafficked children are from Plateau State. The issue is still under investigation and the children were repatriated to their state (Plateau) and handed over to their Ministry of Women Affairs, to reunite with their parents. 

"It is important to state here gentlemen of the press that Kogi State Government, under our amiable Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, will continue to protect children and ensure that criminals, have no breeding place in our state. Our administration will follow this incident to a logical conclusion and ensure that those behind this evil act are brought to book."

According to her, the Ministry in Kogi State had already written to the Ministry of Women Affairs in Ogun State, to track the said woman, adding that, the Director Operations, National Agency for Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons, NAPTIP, Mr. Daniel Atokolo is seriously investigating the situation, with a view to tracking down all those involved in the illegal trade.

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