By Peter Omopo
September 1, 2025
The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), Kano Zonal Command, has taken custody of 12 victims of human trafficking rescued in Kano while being transported to Saudi Arabia for suspected labour exploitation.
The victims, all females aged between 15 and 50, were intercepted on August 31 at Karota Luxurious Park, Hotoro Western Bye-Pass, by the Kano State Hisbah Board in collaboration with NAPTIP.
Zonal Commander Abdullahi Babale confirmed the development on Monday, disclosing that the victims, from Kano, Katsina, Borno, Jigawa, and Zamfara states, were lured with false promises of lucrative jobs abroad.
A 45-year-old suspect, identified as Mohammed Saleh, was arrested in connection with the case, while efforts are ongoing to track other members of the trafficking syndicate.
Babale noted that the operation followed the directive of NAPTIP Director-General, Hajiya Binta Adamu-Bello, to intensify intelligence gathering and clamp down on traffickers.
He commended the Kano Hisbah Board and the state government for their collaboration, assuring that the rescued women would undergo counselling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families.
Babale urged parents and guardians to remain vigilant, warning that traffickers exploit economic hardship to deceive victims with promises of greener pastures abroad.
“We urge members of the public to report any suspicious movement or activities related to human trafficking in their communities,” he added.
