The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has issued a strong warning to parents across the country against entrusting their children to casual acquaintances, untrusted neighbours, and one-off service providers, noting that such actions expose children to trafficking and abduction.
The Director General of NAPTIP, Binta Adamu Bello, gave the warning during the formal reunification of a five-year-old girl, Rahama Ibrahim, with her parents in Damaturu, Yobe State. The DG was represented by the Commander of the NAPTIP Yobe State Command, Saleh Zakar.
Rahama was reportedly abducted in Damaturu by a driver suspected to be involved in child theft operations. She was later rescued in Abuja by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS). The suspect and an accomplice have since been charged to court in Abuja.
The emotional reunion ceremony took place at the Government House, Damaturu, in the presence of the Deputy Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Idi Barde Gubana, alongside operatives of the DSS and NAPTIP officials.
Rahama’s father, Mallam Ibrahim, expressed deep gratitude to the agency and the Federal Government for their role in rescuing and caring for his daughter.
“I want to thank the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Director General of NAPTIP, for assisting my family and taking very good care of my daughter, who was stolen from us. When I saw her today, she looked very neat and well taken care of,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Deputy Governor Gubana lauded NAPTIP for its proactive anti-trafficking efforts and the successful reintegration of the rescued child. He reaffirmed the Yobe State Government’s continued support for the agency’s operations in the state.
In her message, the NAPTIP DG commended the DSS for its collaborative efforts that led to the suspect’s arrest. She emphasized the need for parental vigilance in preventing child trafficking.
“I want to appeal to parents across the country to be vigilant and keep an eye on their children. It is very dangerous to leave children in the care of strangers or send them on errands along lonely roads at odd hours,” Bello warned.
She assured the public that NAPTIP would continue to uphold its mandate of safeguarding Nigerian children and called on all stakeholders to strengthen collaboration in the fight against human trafficking.
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