The Nigeria Immigration Service has intercepted a bus trafficking 21 minors at a checkpoint in Yobe State, thegazellenews.com reports.
The victims, aged 7 to 15, were discovered in a Toyota Hiace bus (registration number 10B-87GM), at the Geidam control point in Dunari, near the border with Niger Republic.
The NIS , which confirmed the development in a statement , explained that the bus was carrying 21 minors from Labule and Ibeto towns in Magama Local Government Area, Niger State, to Maine Soroa in the Niger Republic
“The minors, aged between 7 and 15, were rescued by NIS border outpost officers near the Geidam control post in Dunari, Yobe State,” the service said in the statement.
The statement added that their guardian, Abubakar Saidu, a 28-year-old Islamic school teacher from Anaba, Magama Local Government Area, Niger State, was also apprehended.
The Comptroller of the Yobe State Command, Mr. S.S. Jega, stated that the minors are suspected victims of human trafficking and had no knowledge of their destination, saying that they also lacked valid travel documents and identification.
Jega stated that they suspected possible human trafficking due to the absence of travel documents and supportive papers.
He assured that the minors would be handed over to the proper authorities for investigation.
