The Nigeria Police yesterday intercepted 2 trucks filled with minors in an apparent child trafficking. The police rescued 145 children after stopping two trucks conveying at a check point in Jos.
The children – all male and within the age range of four to eight years – were rescued by members of the Special Task Force, Operation Safe Haven.
The Public Relations Officer of the Plateau State Police Command, ASP Mathias Tyopev, told journalists that they were being transported from other states to states within the north central region, with Plateau as a major route.
“On Thursday 12th January, 2017 the special task force, Sector 2 located opposite University of Jos intercepted two trucks conveying 145 children from Bauchi and Jigawa states to Plateau, Kaduna and Nassarawa states.
“Our investigations further reveals that these children who are all male were to be taken to places where the three mallams who were coordinating the movement have not even visited,” he said.
The children were been conveyed under a harsh condition, they were stacked alongside grains. The suspects, comprising two drivers, eight conductors and three accompanying instructors were still in the custody of the Police and they have been providing information about how they came about the children and their destination.
The children are custody of of the Nigeria Police at their headquarters in Jos, while investigation into the matter continues. The Police say it would soon embark on the process of establishing contact with the state governments of Jigawa and Bauchi for the return of the children to their parents.
